Skip to main content

Former official charged over Greek Olympic venues

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek prosecutors have brought criminal mismanagement charges against a former official responsible for the post-Olympic use of costly venues that languished for years after the 2004 Athens Games.

Constantinos Matalas, who headed the now-defunct state-run Olympic Properties SA in 2008, faces a jail term of 5 to 10 years, if convicted.

Prosecutors Sotiris Boygioukos and Eleni Siskou also asked Parliament to lift the immunity of Matalas’ successor, Dionysis Stamenitis, who is now a lawmaker with the governing conservative New Democracy party, to allow his prosecution on the same charges.

Greece hosted the 2004 Games after a mad, last-minute rush to complete the venues in time. But for years thereafter most of the purpose-built installations languished unused and poorly maintained.

The charges were brought Monday.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

WTOP’s News, Traffic & Weather App

WTOP is your source for regional news, traffic and weather in DC, Maryland and Virginia. And we're excited to bring you the WTOP app, which offers a clean, streamlined experience to quickly read articles, sign up for customized breaking news and traffic alerts, create a personalized newsfeed based on your interests, and listen live to WTOP Radio.
Read Next Story