Athens won't sleep during Games

Athens Olympics organisers have unveiled the new measures in a bid to make the Greek capital more accessible and friendly to visitors for one month before and during next August's Olympics.

From round-the-clock transport, to late-night garbage collections and extended shopping, Athenians will have to stretch their working hours to meet Games organisers' needs.

"We want all of Athens to put its best foot forward," Games chief Gianna Angelopoulos said in a joint news conference with the country's Culture and Olympics Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

"Our goal is for an Athens that will be open, human, safe and festive -- an Athens where everyone will be able to travel with ease but without disturbing the working of the Games."

Organisers expect more than 250,000 people to visit the city during the Olympics that start on August 13.

Shops in Athens and around all Olympic venues will remain open 12

Renowned evening traffic jams due to garbage trucks will be a thing of the past as collections must be after midnight.

Public transport, including buses, the subway and new rail lines will be available around the clock with Olympic ticket holders allowed free transfer to and from sports events.

The special measures will run from August 2 to September 4. And while Athenians will have to forego their traditional early afternoon nap, some habits are too ingrained for even the Olympics to challenge.

The frequent demonstrations in the capital to back strikes and political issues that often bring Athens heavy traffic to a standstill will not be banned.

"Society continues to function during the Games," Venizelos told reporters. "Demonstrations and strikes are covered by the constitution."

"The measures will be as mild as possible, restricted to only all that is necessary."