2004 officials clash over volunteerism

The establishment of incentives to lure the tens of thousands of Greeks needed to offer voluntary services during the Athens Olympics was debated by 2004 organizing committee officials yesterday. Greece needs some 60,000 volunteers, but 2004 officials have said they will need at least 150,000 applications to choose from. So far, interest is lukewarm, with Cypriots and Greeks of the diaspora accounting for a large proportion of applications. Athens 2004 organizing committee President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki bristled at proposals for legislation to boost volunteerism by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos who is, after Prime Minister Costas Simitis, the government’s top Olympics official. Angelopoulos-Daskalaki is understood to oppose such mooted incentives as extra leave from work and military service deferment to attract volunteers, as this would detract from the true spirit of volunteerism. Following a session of the National Committee for the Olympic Games, which consists of government and 2004 officials, as well as party representatives and sports officials, Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said politics should not be dragged into volunteerism. «We need a positive climate,» she said. «We must all ensure that no political expediency affects legislation (regarding volunteerism) or monitoring (of the volunteer program).» Later in the day, Venizelos insisted that Angelopoulos-Daskalaki was «necessary» to Greece’s Olympic preparations, and assured journalists that «the government rejoices in the successes of the 2004 committee.» Meanwhile, in what could be a major boost to the volunteer program, Angelopoulos-Daskalaki yesterday signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Greek Scouting Association, under which the country’s estimated 25,000 scouts will offer their services during the Games. The Association will also place its summer campground at Aghios Andreas, in eastern Attica, at 2004’s disposal.