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Sotiris Blatsis | profile | all galleries >> The Other Photography - people, places, obsessions, Life! >> A day or two peeping into the Olympic Village tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

A day or two peeping into the Olympic Village

On August 23 and 27, 2004 I visited the Olympic Village - the heart and soul of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games - being a guest of the Hellenic Olympic delegation. The Olympic Village, a complex of three-storey houses, is built in the northwestern outskirts of Athens, right next to a forest, yet still quite treeless itself. During the Olympic Games, it is lodging about sixteen thousand members of the Olympic delegations of 202 countries and will be used to house working class families, as well as the Ministry of Employment afterwards. The infrastructure and facilities are nicely set up, but the annoying presence of the so-called "Olympic sponsors" trademarks can be seen virtually everywhere - not to mention that thirteen workers have been killed during the construction of this venue alone...
An exclusive bus line...
An exclusive bus line...		 ...on a dedicated road.
...on a dedicated road.		 Tight security...
Tight security...
...leads to the queue.
...leads to the queue.		 Cross-checking against the white list
Cross-checking against the white list		 Welcome to the Olympic Village!
Welcome to the Olympic Village!
Agora: the main plaza...
Agora: the main plaza...		 ...where gold medallists give exclusive interviews...
...where gold medallists give "exclusive" interviews...		 ...and silver medallists pose to the photographic lens.
...and silver medallists pose to the photographic lens.
Careless lawns
Careless lawns		 Colour-flagged, not barbed-wire
Colour-flagged, not barbed-wire		 Roundabout...
Roundabout...
...to the Admin building.
...to the Admin building.		 Which way to choose...
Which way to choose...		 ...Elm Street...
...Elm Street...
...or Palm Corridor?
...or Palm Corridor?		 Blossoming view for Mongolians
Blossoming view for Mongolians		 Do you keep secrets?
Do you keep secrets?
The Japanese prefer to launder on their own...
The Japanese prefer to launder on their own...		 ...rather than trust the laundry service of the Village!
...rather than trust the laundry service of the Village!		 Aussies brought their kangaroos along...
Aussies brought their kangaroos along...
...and the Swiss brought their cows.
...and the Swiss brought their cows.		 New Zealanders can't live without their totems...
New Zealanders can't live without their totems...		 ...and the British without their traditional phone booth!
...and the British without their traditional phone booth!
An Englishman in Athens moves around in style...
An Englishman in Athens moves around in style...		 ...while a Flying Dutchman has his own way.
...while a Flying Dutchman has his own way.		 Wounded, but present and fearless...
Wounded, but present and fearless...
...unlike the Israelis, who set up their own extra security measures.
...unlike the Israelis, who set up their own extra security measures.		 It's not a golf course, it's the Greek delegation headquarters!
It's not a golf course, it's the Greek delegation headquarters!		 Doors open...
Doors open...
...to reveal the work being done inside.
...to reveal the work being done inside.		 Peeping inside the athletes' bedrooms...
Peeping inside the athletes' bedrooms...		 ...and bathrooms.
...and bathrooms.
Keeping in good shape is tough...
Keeping in good shape is tough...		 ...but the reward comes afterwards!
...but the reward comes afterwards!		 A snapshot in front of the house...
A snapshot in front of the house...
...and let's make our way...
...and let's make our way...		 ...to the main Dining Hall!
...to the main Dining Hall!		 At full capacity
At full capacity
Cold cuts...
Cold cuts...		 ...and salads for all.
...and salads for all.		 Greek cuisine
Greek cuisine
They cook, I serve!
They cook, I serve!		 AirplaTe
AirplaTe		 Bon Appetit, Sir!
Bon Appetit, Sir!
Addiction...
Addiction...		 Inspired fruit preparation
Inspired fruit preparation		 -Would you like some melon? -Well, if you take my grapes...
-Would you like some melon? -Well, if you take my grapes...
Obviously longing for real Asian food...
Obviously longing for real Asian food...		 ...because this food is itchy!
...because this food is itchy!		 Some athletes eat junk food, too...
Some athletes eat junk food, too...
...that's why they sink in boredom!
...that's why they sink in boredom!		 This tray is mine, OK?
This tray is mine, OK?		 Hey, that guy is taking a picture of you!
Hey, that guy is taking a picture of you!
See? We don't need to wait for the film to be developed!
See? We don't need to wait for the film to be developed!		 Rest assured, we'll come back with the gold!
Rest assured, we'll come back with the gold!		 Strategy analysis after lunch
Strategy analysis after lunch
Same team, yet isolated...
Same team, yet isolated...		 ...different nations, yet sharing the same table!
...different nations, yet sharing the same table!		 Cleaning time, for floor and fingers
Cleaning time, for floor and fingers
I've got some good stuff in here, man...
I've got some good stuff in here, man...		 After such a generous lunch, the internal bus...
After such a generous lunch, the internal bus...		 ...will take us to the polyclinic for the stomachache!
...will take us to the polyclinic for the stomachache!
Six times prohibition...
Six times prohibition...		 ...not enough to blanket the fun!
...not enough to blanket the fun!		 Bye-bye Access Control...
Bye-bye Access Control...
...the flags of the World are waving good bye!
...the flags of the World are waving good bye!		 Come have a look, rare pins to trade...
Come have a look, rare pins to trade...		 Choose any of these for this one!
Choose any of these for this one!
The amenities corridor
The amenities corridor		 Tell me your PIN please
Tell me your PIN please		 Digital forefront
Digital forefront
Hmmm... I certainly will develop your films!
Hmmm... I certainly will develop your films!		 Not only sailing athletes do surfing
Not only sailing athletes do surfing		 Telephone services - the tender ones prefer them indoors...
Telephone services - the tender ones prefer them indoors...
...but the tough ones can cope outdoors.
...but the tough ones can cope outdoors.		 See-through statues
See-through statues		 An Olympic souvenir before you go
An Olympic souvenir before you go

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