Loutraki, Nov 04: Olympic organizers presented the first of 11 cruise ships intended to serve as "floating hotels" which will be used to help make up for Athens accommodation shortage during the games. The cruise ships will house 13,000 people, including members of the IOC, national sports federations, sponsors, broadcasters and visitors.

The MS Oosterdam, based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, is the first ship presented by the Athens Organizing Committee and can hold up to 1,848 passengers in five-star luxury surroundings.

Yesterday, the ship was in Southwestern Greece on a regularly scheduled Mediterranean Cruise. "It is the first time that 11 of the best cruise ships in the world will serve as hotels for the Olympic games," said Basile Niadas, the general manager for games services.

The Oosterdam will host members of the Russian and South African Olympic delegations, as well as officials from 15 other countries during the Aug 13-29 games.

A third of the ship is reserved for members of the Olympic family. The rest will go to broadcasters and visitors.


Most of the ships rooms are already booked, Niadas said. Prices ranges from 300 (USD 347) per night to several thousand Euros (dollars) for a Penthouse Suite. Athens organizers resorted to cruise ships because of an acute shortage of accommodation in Athens.

About 90 per cent of Athens 21,000 top-quality rooms have been reserved for IOC officials and official guests. Bureau Report