INTRODUCTION
7. In the course of an unrelated visit Mr Clelland
had the opportunity to visit a number of Athens Olympic site in
company with Vassilios Vavakos, a Special Adviser to the Committee
who had been a member of the Athens Olympic Transport Organising
committee. Mr Vavakos worked in public transport related organisations
in Athens for the last 23 years, including the periods in which
Athens was working towards tendering for the 1996 and 2004 Olympic
bids.
8. We visited the Olympic complex, using some of
the road network system that had been developed and up-graded
according to the "Athens Transportation Master Plan",
to meet the standards demanded by the organising committee. We
visited the metro Line 1 and the suburban rail stations at the
site. I also experienced bus services, the new tramway that had
been built specifically for the bid, and the metro train service.
9. Broadly, the Athens organising committee bid included
commitments to build a new tramway linking the coast from the
populated areas of Athens centre and Piraeus down to Glyfada,
extensions to the Metro train system - of which lines 2 &
3 were actually planned over 50 years prior but not executed before
2000 - plus some extensions scheduled for 2006 (to the airport,
for instance) which have been accelerated to meet the Olympic
Games. The bid did mean however that every station needed considerable
and extensive refurbishment to meet not only the anticipated volume
of spectators but also modern access and safety needs. Station
platforms were extended to accommodate additional coaches.
10. Upgrading the road network, broadly a large rectangle
around the main Olympic complex, had been planned for some time.
Some roads were rehabilitated, a number of critical links and
interchanges were built and a private consortium company built
a large peripheral freeway toll road completing the rectangle
(b.o.t. i.e. build operate transfer project). This toll-road continues
to operate and works well in keeping city traffic moving. Other
main improvements were the installation of a modern traffic control
system using fibre optics and a traffic management centre was
built in which police, transport ministry staff, city hall staff
etc worked together to respond to and control traffic flows.
11. Prior to the Games, construction traffic had
been absorbed and accepted as part of everyday traffic movements.
There were four main groups to take into account in transport
planning during the Games:
- The Olympic family - the athletes,
the sponsors, IOC, press etc for which there was a contractual
obligation for transportation provision
- Staff and Volunteers working for the Olympic
Games (The workers - stewards, assistants etc)
- Spectators
- Non Olympic everyday city life traffic
12. The first group was clearly defined, its members',
point of origin and destination clearly specified. Transport for
this group was split into three groups. T1 - A dedicated car and
driver for a single individual. T2 - A dedicated car and driver
for two persons. T3 - Car and driver for use by up to three passengers
on call-up service. T4 - Coach transport for athletes, officials
and media.
13. The other two groups related to the Olympic Games
were more amorphous but, whilst it was impossible to predict where
their journeys would start, both their arrival and departure to
and from the Olympic complex had to be controlled in order to
prevent congestion at entrance gates and maximise safety and security.
Co-operation and co-ordination between transport operators worked
well in tackling this problem. The everyday non Olympic city traffic
had to be discouraged and kept to a minimum.
14. Although the new tramway, metro and rail extensions
would be in use, the rail system remained limited compared to
Sydney's. Therefore the Olympic transport committee concentrated
on buses as the main alternative transport provider. A dedicated
Olympic fleet used vehicles sourced from local bus companies -
such as city buses, school and tourist coaches not in use in August
- and specific Olympic lanes, dedicated to the Olympic family
and express buses carrying spectators, were delineated on all
major access routes to the Complex and other venues, allowing
a more effective and efficient movement of transport to and from
Olympic venues.
15. After discussion with transport owners, the price
of a return journey by public transport was included in the price
of each ticket to the Games, as an incentive to use public transport.
Currently public transport in Athens operated on a pre-paid ticket
system.
16. Car usage was actively discouraged by the creation
of extensive and strict 'No Parking' zones around the complex.
17. The deliberate creation of an attractive huge
open space at the main Complex, with entertainment and refreshments,
encouraged spectators to linger on the premises after each session
thus avoiding a congestion peak. Still the main Athens Olympic
Sports Complex was normally evacuated at less than an hour even
during the largest event peaks.
18. Transport problems during the Olympic period
had been to some extent mitigated by the Athenian habit of taking
vacation in August. Furthermore, employees had been actively encouraged
to take their vacation during the period of the games following
a series of meetings with businesses, staff etc.
19. At all stages the needs of people with disabilities
were built into planning, construction and design of public transport.
20. Lessons:
Mr Vavakos advised:
- "Make it simple"
(Keep it simple).
- Use professional "shortcuts". Use existing
professional experience, don't try new ideas just for the sake
of it - use what has been tested and works. Let the professionals
get on with the job.
- "Under promise and over-deliver". Manage
public expectations. Promise something less and offer something
more. This will make the celebrating participants of the Olympic
Games feel even more satisfied with the offered transportation
level of service and will complete their unique Olympic experience
in the most positive way.
- Exploit to the highest degree the strong elements
of the London transportation system which are many and different
to those of Athens.
David Clelland MP
C. Maps
2012 Olympic Games Venues
