Chapter 145 The Turmoil Caused by the Olympics

The newly established Purple Robe Foundation received an investment of 20 million drachmas from the royal family.

The head of the Purple Robe Foundation, Yakov, was asked by Constantine to continue to maintain contact with the exploration team managed by Kastelios.

For Constantine, there are still some urgent problems to be solved before Greece uses new energy-oil on a large scale to continue to promote rapid economic development.

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When Coubertin visited King George, the king agreed to Coubertin's proposal to hold the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.

After getting the king's approval, Coubertin, who was full of confidence, believed that the restoration of the ancient Greek Olympic Games would be successful, so he decided to visit the Greek Prime Minister, Alexandros, in person to finalize the specific details.

The news that Greece would restore ancient traditions and hold the first modern Olympic Games spread like wildfire, which was strongly supported by the citizens of Athens.

On July 4, Coubertin came to the Prime Minister's residence in Alexandros to discuss the practical issues of hosting the Olympic Games.

"Mr. Prime Minister, Greece's restoration of the first modern Olympic Games is of great historical significance. What do you think of this?" Coubertin looked at Alexandros and asked impatiently.

"Ah? You are right, Mr. Coubertin," Alexandros replied absent-mindedly.

Seeing the cold attitude of the Prime Minister, Coubertin's originally excited mood was like a bucket of cold water poured on him.

"Prime Minister Alexandros, do you have any difficulties?" Coubertin couldn't understand why Alexandros was not in high spirits. You know, in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, restoring a tradition that has been interrupted for thousands of years is not only of positive significance to world sports, but also a good opportunity for Greece to inspire people and enhance national self-confidence.

This is equivalent to giving Greece an opportunity to show itself in front of the world.

"Mr. Coubertin, I am very clear about the importance of Greece hosting the Olympic Games, but the Greek government has its own difficulties," Alexandros said with a wry smile.

"Now the Greek treasury is empty, and there is simply not enough money to hold such a grand event."

Coubertin was stunned. Thinking about King George's solemn promise, and then looking at the prime minister's evasion, he said unwillingly: "To hold a sports meeting, only two million francs are needed, that's enough."

"Mr. Coubertin, according to the enthusiasm of the Greek people now, although I have never held a sports meeting, I also know that 2 million drachmas is far from enough to cope with the sports meeting."

"At least 6 million is needed." Alexandros shook his head helplessly.

"The Greek government has just experienced a war, and suddenly, Greece really can't come up with money."

Watching Coubertin leave in despair, Alexandros was also depressed.

When he first served as prime minister, Alexandros was ambitious and lucky. Greece had just defeated the Ottomans. With the Ottomans as a stepping stone, Greece's prestige in Europe has also reached the level of a second-rate country.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, he worked hard to make Greece stronger.

When he leaves office, he will be the prime minister praised by the Greek people.

However, after three months in office, as the end of the contact deepened, Alexandros slowly came to his senses. Greece's finances were in danger and could go bankrupt at any time!

In less than three months of war, the Greek army fought very well on the battlefield and quickly resolved the war. Despite this, the expenditure of more than 100,000 troops completely exhausted the last drop of blood in the Greek treasury.

In addition, the failure to obtain compensation from the Ottoman Empire made the Greek government, which was already heavily in debt, even worse.

Two months ago, in order to ease the financial pressure, the government had borrowed 50 million drachmas from the three major banks in the country. After paying the pensions for the wounded soldiers, the government's daily expenses, and a loan due, there was little left.

Originally, according to Alexandros' plan, as long as the Greek government saved a little in the next few months, he would rack his brains to think of ways to embezzle some funds to survive the current difficult times, and when Greece's taxes for the next year arrived, he would be able to cope with it.

However, Coubertin suddenly appeared and proposed that Greece host the Olympics, which broke his plan.

The prime minister's secretary, Rofus, stepped forward and said, "Prime Minister, I saw a report in the newspaper today that Greece will host the Olympic Games."

"As far as I know, the people are very enthusiastic about this matter. I am afraid that your answer will attract everyone's criticism," Rofus said worriedly.

"The government is now heavily in debt, and in two months, a loan from the UK will expire. It is indeed inappropriate to spend a huge amount of money to host the Olympic Games now," Alexandros took off his glasses, rubbed his temples, and said helplessly.

"Let's find a way to deal with the current predicament."

However, the development of things exceeded Alexandros's imagination.

As the news of Prime Minister Alexandros' refusal to hold the Games spread, Greek newspapers began to fiercely criticize the government for its short-sightedness.

At the same time, the opposition in parliament also began to accuse, and the public was even more dissatisfied.

For a time, Alexandros was under tremendous pressure.

As a person who has been in politics for decades, Alexandros was keenly aware of the anomaly. Even if the Greek government's actions disappointed the people, it should not have caused such a big reaction.

Especially the unusual actions of Crown Prince Constantine.

Constantine criticized the Greek government for its inefficiency and short-sightedness in public.

On July 6, Alexandros, who was under great pressure, had to give a speech in parliament to tell everyone that even if the Olympic Games were not held, Greece's finances might go bankrupt.

At the same time, he called on the people to be patient for the time being and wait until the financial tension is relieved next year before discussing the Olympic Games.

Originally, it was thought that the turmoil caused by the Olympic Games would end at this point.

The next day, taking advantage of the reason that the Olympic Games could not be held, Greek newspapers changed their tone and began to criticize the incompetence and chaos of the Greek government, which led to the fact that the Greek government could not even come up with a sum of money to deal with such a major event as the Olympic Games.

Greek newspapers, big and small, were surprisingly consistent in their opinions; tax system.

The report pointed out that the true meaning of taxation is to pluck the most goose feathers and hear the least goose cries. However, the Greek government did pluck the poor hard, causing the vast majority of poor people to be in mourning.

As for the rich, they really turned a deaf ear to it - the poor and the rich, no matter how big the difference in their personal income is, they pay the same amount of tax.

It is Greece's unfair tax system that has led to the country's sluggish income and such a dilemma.

After the victory of the war, Greece's international status soared, and the people's morale also improved.

Now seeing that the government can't even come up with money for such an important event as the Olympics, this strong contrast makes the people unbearable.

In particular, the large number of articles in the newspapers accusing the shortcomings of the current tax system have touched the pain points of the majority of the people and aroused widespread resonance.

For a time, criticism of the Greek government was endless.

At the same time, demands for tax system reform were made.

At this time, Alexandros also woke up. It was obvious that someone was taking the opportunity to cause trouble.

This storm is no longer something that can be easily resolved.