Blair discussed using Elgin Marbles as Olympics bargaining chip
‘The publicity could secure the Greek nomination and help garner other IOC votes’
TONY BLAIR was advised to use the Elgin Marbles as a “bargaining chip” to persuade Greece to support London’s 2012 Olympic bid, newly released documents reveal.
The former Labour prime minister was keen on the idea, and even suggested that Lord Owen, the former foreign secretary, should be given the job of negotiating the sculptures’ return.
The proposal fell through, and the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon Sculptures, remain at the British Museum, despite ongoing efforts by the current Greek prime minister to repatriate them.
The sculptures, which were removed from the Parthenon in Athens by Lord Elgin more than 200 years ago, have been a cultural and diplomatic hot potato ever since, with Britain arguing they were lawfully purchased and Greece maintaining that they were illegally removed.
Cabinet Office papers released by the National Archives show that Greece had pleaded with Britain to return the marbles ahead of the Athens 2004 Olympics in a gesture “befitting the Olympic spirit”.
Britain regarded such an arrangement in a far more transactional way, the papers show.
In April 2003 Sarah Hunter, Mr Blair’s policy adviser on culture, media and sport, wrote to him to say there were good reasons for the government to abandon its stance that the marbles were entirely a matter for the British Museum, and instead encourage the museum “to find an accommodation over the next 12 months”.
She wrote: “The marbles could be a powerful bargaining chip in IOC [International Olympic Committee] vote building for a 2012 Olympic bid. The publicity attached to this move could secure the Greek nomination and help garner a wide range of other IOC votes.”
Asked whether he wanted to open up a channel with the British Museum to debate possible steps, Mr Blair hand wrote a replyer saying: “Yes. Why not put David Owen in charge of negotiating this? It would give it profile, he has clout & cd probably help with the BM, whilst distancing it a little from Govt.”
Lord Owen said last night: “There was no contact with me from the Blair Government about negotiating with the Greek Government about a loan over the Marbles.”