Private companies reinforce the museum of Ancient Olympia

The audacious robbery at the museum of Ancient Olympia a few weeks ago, which left the public opinion speechless, has also highlighted the huge gaps in the guarding of our archaeological sites.

Immediately after the robbery, ND MP and member of the Cultural Affairs Committee, Dionisia Avgerinopoulou, raised a question in parliament about the nonexistent guarding of the museum, and also contacted private security companies which directly responded to her request for reinforcing its security.

Thus, four Greek companies will provide free alarm systems, bulletproof vests, cameras, radios, security equipment and self-defense seminars for better training of the guarding staff.

"Our contribution to reinforcing the security of the Museum or providing expertise or infrastructure, to avoid a repetition of what happened during the recent robbery, is a national obligation," said the individuals that will be involved pro bono in the guarding of the museum. Avgerinopoulou submitted their generous offer to parliament yesterday, while also informing the City Council of the Municipality of Ancient Olympia, Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos and the Z’ Office of Antiquities.

"It is not possible that Ancient Olympia, a global symbol which receives 1 million visitors a year, offering the maximum to State funds, does not have the means for the upgrading and protection of its archaeological sites or the development of its infrastructure," said the ND MP to protothema.gr.

As she explains, in contacts with the ministry of Culture she proposed Ancient Olympia as the cultural capital of Europe, asking to connect it to the next Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

"We should not miss the opportunity to promote the birthplace of Olympism during the week of the Olympic torch relay," she said, stressing that to this end, she had worked during her contacts at the World Economic Forum in Davos and with the Mayor of London in order to organize joint programs of promotion in view of the Olympic Games.