Andy Robinson
Born in Liverpool in 1960, Andy Robinson has lived in Sabadell, Barcelona and Madrid. Since 2002 he has settled in Manhattan. After studying economics and journalism, he has worked for Business Week, The Guardian and New Statesman amongst others. He has been La Vanguardia’s correspondent in New York and currently works for the same newspaper as a rotating correspondent. He also publishes a blog named “Diario Itinerante” (Itinerant diary).
Updated: 12 March 2010
For supporters of the Olympics, the colossal sums invested have a positive impact in terms of tourism, urban renewal and society – by popularising sports. In reality, this is rarely the case, as shown by the examples of cities that have hosted the Games in the past. 
The idea hatched late last year of creating EU-wide bonds is gaining ground. Though flatly rejected by Germany, it looks like an effective means of bolstering overindebted countries besieged by the markets. 
The urban renewal project in the Greek capital has been hit by new government measures designed to remedy the disastrous state of the nation's finances. Without funding, city planners must explore other options, starting with the fight against cars and chaotic development.