My Big Fat Greek Olympics

Enviros Say Athens Olympics Will Fall Short of Green Mark

The Olympic Games in Athens this summer will be anything but green, says a new report released by the World Wildlife Fund. The U.N. Environment Program has also chastised Greek officials for failing to meet a number of environmental pledges they made when bidding for the games in 1997. Critics say that the construction of large complexes such as the Olympic Village have not incorporated non-toxic building materials, solar power, and eco-friendly recycling and waste-management systems. WWF also says facilities such as a table-tennis hall have been built on environmentally sensitive land. "Neither local organizers nor the International Olympic Committee give a damn about the environment," said Theodota Nantsou, WWF conservation manager in Greece.