Going to the Olympics?

Dropping chewing gum or a cigarette on the pavement, or swearing in the street, could incur a £15 fine during the Olympics in Athens. Mayor Dora Bakoyannis today announced tough measures in a bid to clean up the Greek capital for the Games in August. A new squad of 500 police officers is being trained to enforce the new regulations which also include fines of £35 for dumping plastic bags in the street and £1,000 penalties for leaving large amounts of rubbish about. The new squad, who are all learning English, will also remove illegal traders. Athens, which has had a huge problem with dust because of Olympic construction work, is one of Europe's scruffiest cities.

But it has just spent £25 million on equipment to clean its pavements and roads. Greeks, some of the heaviest smokers in Europe, are going to have to clean up their acts. There will be special boxes every 20 metres where people can drop their cigarette ends. The fines for swearing are aimed at stopping frustrated motorists from arguing on the congested roads. And passengers will have the right to report cursing taxi drivers to police. Mrs Bakoyannis plans to keep the penalties in place after the Games which open on 13 August. She is also determined that security worries will not stop foreigners going to Athens. Her first husband - an MP in the Greek parliament - was shot dead in 1989 by the November 17 terrorist group. (for littering???) After his death she successfully stood for his parliamentary seat.