Hellenic Springs

The Ceremony finished with a superb concert given by the most popular Greek singers of today; Dionyssis Savopoulos (Known for blending folk music with contemporary), Eleftheria Arvanitaki (New melodies with roots going back to rembetika), Michalis Chatzigiannis (A young singer and composer born in Cyprus who has developed an original style), Anna Vissi (From Cyprus, who is the present queen of Greek pop music), Alkistis Protopsalti (A beautiful voice with explosive energy), Sakis Rouvas (One of the best known pop stars outside of Greece) and Adonis Remos (Best known for his intensive love songs). They performed in a torrential rain of tinsel and confetti and a cascade of balloons from the roof. The concert became a gigantic gig to celebrate the end of the Greek Olympic Games.

Then, suddenly, it was all over. Athens 2004 was at an end. Greece had done it! The Games had been free from technical problems and there had been no terrorist incidents. Security personal and the police forces had been efficient but friendly. There was a need for apologies from the media who had predicted chaos and confusion. On the other hand, millions of people, both spectators and TV viewers, had witnessed a popular, fresh and dynamic Olympic Games second to none. These Games had been different! They had been a joy to watch. The organisers had cut back on vulgar commercialism and confirmed that artistry and culture combined with extreme friendliness are a winning theme. I hoped that they also represented something that would carry Greece onwards into Europe. Our tired and disillusioned Northern Europe could certainly do with a vitalising injection of new ideas after a hundred years of failed ideologies. It would not surprise me if new impulses will come from Greece and other Mediterranean countries.