A survey of more than 500 Sydney residents by Ansett
Airlines showed that 14% of the city's four million
residents plan to leave during the Summer Games, according
to the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Of those leaving, 55% are
going overseas, 28% are staying interstate or going to New
South Wales and 1% are "still uncertain." Less than 6% of
those who earn less than A$30,000 will leave. The figure
jumps to 41% for those who earn over A$130,000 (SMH, 7/25).
IT'S NO LONGER ALL GREEK TO THEM: The Greek government
approved $5.3B in spending for the 2004 Olympics, with "more
than half that money aimed at infrastructure projects in
Athens and around the country." The funding discussion was
the first since the IOC "warned Greece in April that delays
were endangering the games" (AP, 7/25). Meanwhile,
MACLEAN'S Paul Wood writes that "there is growing pessimism"
over whether Athens can "get on track" for preparing for the
Games. There is also concern over "the threat of
terrorism." One "high-ranking" Canadian official, on the
attitude of Greek Games officials at this year's int'l
gathering of Olympic officials in Sydney: "You could smell
the fear. It's a disaster" (MACLEAN'S, 7/24 issue).
