The Coca Cola HBC Group has cancelled an event it was due to hold at Kallimarmaro after “blockade” of Culture Minister Lina Mendoni on the work of placing a huge tent at the entrance of the stadium.

In the announcement, the Group even claims that all necessary permits had been obtained for the work, and the architectural plans and studies that had been submitted and approved were fully complied with, while the aesthetic result would have been different if the construction had been completed.

A detailed statement reads as follows:

“In response to reports of construction for an event at the Panathinaiko Stadium, we note that our company applied for and received in time all the required permits from the competent authorities, to proceed with a temporary construction that would host an important event of our company, with full respect and compliance with the conditions of the concession of temporary use of the square in front of the Panathinaiko Stadium.

Moreover, during the works, all the required procedures were followed, in full compliance with the architectural plans and studies as submitted and approved. Even though this was a temporary and entirely legal construction, which was not completed to reflect the final aesthetic result, our company decided to cancel this event.”

It will be recalled that this morning, the Lt. Culture Ms. Lina Mendoni, after an autopsy made at the site, instructed the relevant services to immediately stop work on the metal construction in front of the Kallimarmaro Stadiu,m given the event of the annual Coca Cola Leadership 2025, which had requested and received permission. This is as according to the Minister, the law “On the Protection of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage in General” was violated. Mrs Mendoni carried out an autopsy at the site this morning after a report in the newspaper Democracy that referred to “construction-erection”.