Travel updates for September 10, 2004 as issued by the Consular Affairs Section of Foreign Affairs Canada. Current Issues: An entry concerning Hurricane Ivan (natural disaster) was amended. Canadians should not travel to Grenada until further notice. Hurricane Ivan has caused severe damage in Grenada. Communications across the island are down. Power is out, and there has been extensive damage to infrastructure, including the main airport, hospital and courthouse. The hurricane has also worsened the security situation in Grenada as looting has been reported. Canadians should not travel to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands until further notice. Canadians in Jamaica and in the Cayman Islands should leave if they can do so safely. The Canadian High Commission in Kingston, Jamaica has authorized the evacuation of non-essential personnel and dependents. Canadians should not travel to Cuba until further notice. Canadians in Cuba should leave the country while they can do so safely and before commercial airlines suspend operations. Canadians choosing to remain in Cuba should monitor local news and weather reports, and follow the advice of local civil defence authorities. The Canadian embassy in Havana has authorized the evacuation of dependents of personnel. For up-to-date information on Hurricane Ivan, please visit the Web site of the National Hurricane Center. Canadians resident in the affected areas should monitor local news and weather reports, and follow the advice of local authorities. We encourage Canadians who have disrupted their travel plans due to Hurricane Ivan to maintain contact with relatives in Canada who may have concerns for their safety. They should also check with the airline, their travel agent or tour operator, and plan accordingly. An entry concerning the 2004 Summer Paralympic Games (general) was amended. The 2004 Summer Paralympic Games will take place in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to 28. During the games, the city of Athens and the surrounding region will host athletes, officials, media, and other guests from countries around the world. The Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, International Paralympic Committee, and Greek authorities are endeavouring to ensure the success of this event. Canadian visitors should recognize that any high profile international event in the current global climate is vulnerable to the risk of a terrorist attack. The Greek Government has made security at the games a top priority. Special security arrangements will be in place at Paralympic venues, airports, border crossings, other sensitive areas, and in major public areas in Athens. During the games, there may be demonstrations, some of which could turn violent. In recent months, Greek anarchist groups have launched several attacks with small explosive devices on official Greek buildings and those of foreign commercial interests. More such activities could take place during the games. There were limited demonstrations during the Olympic Games in August and no bombing incident. Travellers to the games are reminded to take sensible precautions. They should maintain a high level of personal security awareness at all times and in all places. Canadians should avoid demonstrations, monitor local developments, and follow the advice of local authorities. They should exercise caution in crowded areas, on public transportation, at airports, railway stations, bars, restaurants, and hotels. Ensure personal belongings, including passports and other travel documents, are secure at all times. As in many countries, there is a risk of petty crime, such as mugging, pickpocketing, purse snatching, and luggage theft. Visitors should confirm their accommodation and travel arrangements well in advance. Athens is not generally accommodating toward the mobility impaired, but some improvements have been made in preparation for the Paralympic Games. Much of the public transport (buses, trams, and urban railway) has been made more accessible, and all metro stations have elevators for the disabled. In addition, a fleet of buses and new taxis are available to carry the disabled during the Paralympics. Some hotels have been equipped to better accommodate disabled guests. Some archaeological and cultural sites are more accessible to the disabled as well (e.g., the Acropolis has an elevator). In the streets of central Athens, efforts have been made to upgrade sidewalks with aids for the visually impaired. However, uneven pavement remains a major obstacle for the visually and mobility impaired. Trees, parked cars, sidewalk cafes, and kiosks often obstruct sidewalks. The Athens 2004 Organizing Committee has awarded special stickers to businesses participating in an accessibility awareness campaign, known as Project ERMIS. The stickers are displayed by over 1,300 businesses, including clothing retailers, restaurants, cafés, bars, bookstores, jewellers, florists, and pharmacies. The stickers indicate that there is a store entrance at least 90 centimetres wide, ample interior space for wheelchairs, and, where applicable, an elevator with an 80-centimetre-wide door. Identified cafes, bars and restaurants are also expected to provide accessible wheelchair bathrooms. A guide to businesses participating in Project ERMIS can be found on the Web site of the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. The guide is also available at ports of entry and will be provided to athletes participating in the Paralympic Games, reporters, and associations for the disabled. The consular section of the Canadian Embassy in Athens also has copies of the guide. During the Paralympic Games, consular services, including emergency assistance, are available from 8:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday, at the Canadian Embassy at 4 Ioannou Ghennadiou Street, 115 21 Athens (country code: 30/ tel.: 210-727-3400/ fax: 210-727-3480/ e-mail: athns-cs@dfait-maeci.gc.ca). If you are in Greece, in case of an emergency after working hours, please call 210-727-3399. In case of an emergency abroad, family and friends in Canada may call collect at 1-613-996-8885 for assistance. Links and information on tickets, accommodations, and other matters relevant to Canadian visitors can be found on the Web site of the Canadian Embassy in Athens. Further information on tickets, accommodations, local travel, and guidance on access to Olympic venues can be found in the "Visitor Info" section of the Web site of the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. Visit the Web site of the Canadian Paralympic Committee for details on Canadian participation in the 2004 Summer Paralympic Games. The following Travel Report(s) were updated: Cuba Ghana Grenada Nepal Peru Country Travel Reports may be updated after 3 p.m. (EDT), so if you want to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information, please visit our Travel Updates page.
