Olympics- Where are the spectators?

by Bob Ross on 28 Aug 2004 The public is not welcome at the vast Agios Kosmas sailing centre, against the wishes of
ISAF president Henderson.

The vast Agios Kosmas sailing centre was peaceful today as the sailors, most of the volunteers and big media contingent enjoyed the reserve day; second last day of the Olympic sailing programme.

No noisy Brazilians, Spanish and Israeli journalists turning the media centre into a noisy zoo. No crowds on the sea wall.

Well, the crowds have never been there. Hardly anyone in this quite ritzy seaside suburb of Athens seems to know the sailing is on, right outside their doorsteps.

The sea wall guarding this vast, new marina that is to become a winter home for super yachts after the Games, would have been ideal for spectator viewing, with windward marks on one of the course areas laid within a few hundred metres of it.

But spectators have not been welcome. In fact, they have been barred from the venue and from the medal ceremonies on security grounds. The night Gal Fridman won Israel’s first ever gold medal, a crowd of Israeli supporters gathered outside the gates of the sailing venue, unable to get in with entry by ticket only.

Some of the more enterprising sailors ‘scalped’ their complimentary tickets to the ceremony to make a few euros.

The outspoken president of the International Sailing Federation, Paul Henderson, has been upset by the lack of spectator access and has been at loggerheads with the Greek sailing venue management.

He let fly in an interview published in today’s English edition of leading Greek newspaper Kathimerini. He was especially critical of the fact that one of ISAF’s proposals – to build a promenade around the venue so that people could watch watch – was rejected. ‘On grounds of security, of course,’ he said. ‘That’s their first excuse. How about the Olympic stadium? The crowd there is much closer to the athletes.’

Henderson also had a problem with sailing venue manager, Kathimerini reported. ‘The current venue manager is very difficult (to work with). Halfway through the Olympics, I decided to ignore him and do what has to be done.’

One of the differences with the venue manager was that he would not allow into the venue the containers to pack the boats of classes that already finished.

He was also critical of the audiences at the medal ceremonies. ‘They can’t just applaud the Greeks and then leave the place. That’s why I decided to put any ceremonies involving Greek crews at the end so that (spectators) would stay for the other ceremonies as well.'

Henderson praised the sailing centre. ISAF provided input into its design. ‘What we asked them to do is build something that would be used after (the Games) that would be a legacy, be profitable. I think that our venue will be the only profitable one after the Olympics.’