Greece Friday approved 200 billion drachmas (about 600 million U.S. dollars) for sports infrastructure projects in the country's provinces. Greece's Deputy Minister for Sports Andreas Fouras made the announcement after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis on the 2004 Olympic Games which will take place in Athens.

Commenting on this, Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that it was part of the run-off effect of the holding of the 2004 Olympic Games.

He added that a large number of the projects to receive funding in the run-up to the Games would also be used for Olympic Games events.