Chapter 1248
"In addition, we initially estimated that more than 100,000 tourists may come to Turín to watch the games during the games. This will inevitably put a great burden on the whole of Turín. I have had a discussion with Lord Agathia (Agathia was promoted to Lord Provost the year before last), and he has transferred a number of patrols from the neighbouring districts to be deployed during the Games to maintain order in the whole of the Turil district.
Considering that half of these tourists may be visiting Turín for the first time, our preparatory team followed the method implemented when the football finals were first held and mobilized youths above the age of 16 from various Turín schools and Diónia schools to serve as volunteers for the games to help these tourists … "
After Cloto Catax had spent more than 10 minutes explaining the preparatory work in a clear and organized manner, the ministers began to discuss in whispers.
The first to ask was Minister of Finance Archipedes, "Sir Consul, over the past two years, your preparatory team has withdrawn 1,000 Taliente silver from the national treasury. It is said that there is not much left. After the games, you will award a considerable amount of silver to the champion athletes of each event and hold a grand celebration banquet at the end of the games … I just want to ask how much more money does the preparatory team need from the finance department?" Considering that the person he was asking was the future king, Archipedes tried his best to control his tone.
Cloto Catax said with a smile, "Sir Archipedes, the information you received is not accurate. The prize money for the winning athletes and the expenses for the final celebration banquet are included in the money previously allocated to the preparatory team by the finance department. Because it has already been allocated, it gives you such an illusion. In fact, the money is not only completely enough, but there should still be some left after the games."
"Then after the games, please return the remaining money to the finance department as soon as possible!" Archipedes blurted out.
"As one of the members of the preparatory team, I would like to add another explanation." Flaccus, the Minister of Commerce, interjected (Marigi had resigned due to old age two years ago, and Flaccus, who had been recommended by Marigi, took over), "His Highness Clotocatax spoke very modestly just now. In fact, by the end of the Sports Meet, the money in the hands of the preparatory team wasn't just a little, but a lot.
First of all, most of the shops in the commercial streets that we have temporarily added in the city have been sold yesterday, and the rent we have received has already exceeded 100 Talent. Moreover, there are many foreign businessmen who have registered at the business office of Turín and requested to rent shops during the games. Now, the newly added commercial streets are no longer enough. Last night, His Highness urgently convened the preparatory team for a small meeting and finally decided to add three more temporary markets near the ports of Castellón and Amendola. I believe that by the end of the games, we can earn about 300 Talent just from the rent of the shops alone. "
The more Flaccus spoke, the more complacent he became. "Also … the advertising spaces inside and outside the arenas have all been sold, and the income has also exceeded 100 Talent. (Placing and hanging advertising boards inside and outside the arenas has been implemented in Turín since ten years ago. It is precisely because the annual football and rugby finals are in full swing that the Turín Devers inadvertently made this suggestion to Marigi. Marigi treated it like a treasure and immediately implemented it. In the beginning, the businessmen were unwilling to pay to place advertisements in the arenas, mainly to please Minister of Commerce Marigi. As a result, the sales of goods that were advertised in the arenas increased greatly. Since then, the practice of using the games to advertise became popular in the kingdom.)
In addition, according to the estimates of the Ministry of Commerce, the commercial tax of the entire Turín region will more than double in July because of the games. That is to say, there will be an additional income of at least 600 Talent!
Sir Archipedes, has this earned back the 1,000 Talent that the finance department has previously paid?! Not to mention, the holding of the games will increase the attractiveness of Turín to the people of the entire Mediterranean. After the games, the number of tourists coming to Turín should maintain a long-term growth, which is very good for our tax revenue. "
"Great!" The Devers patted the armrest of the throne and said with a smile, "The games haven't even started, and you've already earned so much money. It seems that our insistence on holding this games is not a waste of manpower and money because of a gamble. Instead, it is very beneficial to the national treasury!"
Upon hearing the Devers' words, the ministers who had initially expressed their opposition were slightly embarrassed.
At this moment, the Minister of Education, Mentoticus, asked, "Your Highness, Turín has a dense population. I remember many years ago, the current Dean of the Diónia Academy, Lysias, once wrote an article describing the hustle and bustle of Turín, as well as the busy sea and land transportation in order to ensure the food, clothing, and housing of the Turín people … Now that the games will be held in Turín, you just said that more than 100,000 people will swarm into Turín in a short period of time! 100,000 people is a huge number. Won't it crush the entire urban supply system of Turín and bring great difficulties to the lives of the Turín people? "
"Let me answer this question," Teris, the regional governor of Turín, took over the conversation and said, "First, let's talk about food. The merchants of the kingdom are very shrewd. They have already predicted that the games will be very grand, so many restaurants and hotels have begun to stock up on food, cured meat, cattle, sheep, and wine in the past few months … According to the news I received, half of the warehouses in all the ports and markets have been used to store food. It should not be a problem to supply 500,000 to 600,000 people for a month. If there is still a shortage, I have reached an agreement with Lord Burcos. In case of emergency, we can use the granaries in the north of Turín to stabilize the possible rise of food prices in Turín.
Let's talk about housing. Actually, there is no need to worry too much. Currently, most of the citizens in the urban areas and suburbs rely on renting houses for a living. There are enough houses for the tyrannical tourists. Moreover, the market will automatically guide the tourists not to live in the urban areas because the housing prices in the urban areas are bound to be expensive. The further away from the urban areas, the cheaper the rental prices will be. For example, places like Amendola, Castellón, Abyssinia, and even Crimissa. I think the tourists who come to watch the games are not necessarily rich. They will stay in Turín for more than ten days or even a month. They will definitely decide where to stay based on the amount of gold and silver they bring. Also, trained volunteers will specially guide the tourists. When the tourists are scattered throughout the Turín region, I think the Turín people will not feel too crowded and noisy.
Of course, in order to ensure that the tourists scattered throughout the Turín region can watch the games smoothly, we must also have fast and convenient transportation. Actually, this is not a big problem. The roads in Turín region are the best in the whole kingdom. Moreover, for this games, Lord Heraclide has personally supervised his subordinates to build new roads and bridges since last year.
In addition, the Turín region's administrative office will issue some temporary decrees during the games. For example, piggyback teams are not allowed to enter the urban areas during the day, goods will be transported by boat as much as possible … Also, besides watching the games, Turín people will try to reduce their travel as much as possible …
In addition, the administrative office has specifically discussed with the carriage association, requesting them to transport passengers at the usual price during the games and provide good service.
Just now, His Highness mentioned that Lord Agathia will strengthen the security of Turín region during the games. Another important issue that needs to be paid attention to is to prevent fires. It's summer now, and the weather is dry. During the games, there will be a lot of people. Once a fire breaks out, the consequences will be unimaginable. Therefore, the administrative office has formulated a plan in this regard several months ago and has started to implement it. During the games, the entire region's firefighting team must be on standby all day and be ready to set off at any time. Some volunteers have been assigned to be temporary firefighters. After receiving specialized training, they will be responsible for fire patrols in each street block. The firefighting team also requested that the homes of Turín residents must be equipped with a pool filled with water. After several rounds of inspections, all the streets have basically met the requirements. The administrative office has also organized fire prevention training in each street block … "
"Very good! Teris, the Turín Administrative Office is very thoughtful and well-prepared. This makes me more confident about the success of the games, "Devers praised with a smile.
"Your Majesty, this is the result of the hard work of His Highness and the preparation team for more than a year!" Teris replied humbly. As the chief executive of the region, he was not supposed to attend the meeting of the ministers, but since the main topic of the meeting was the preparation for the games, he had to attend. As a matter of fact, when Lucias and Hemont retired a few years ago, he participated in the election of the Senate as a candidate for the position of Assistant Minister, but he lost to Bagoule and Asistes in the end.
"I heard that the Olympia, Delphi, Corinth's Poseidon Priests, and the Parthenon Temple in Athens all refused to come to Turín to participate in the training of the judges. What did the preparation team do about it?" Tapirus, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, asked.
"I'd like to ask the honorable Priest Plesinus to answer this question." Cloto Catax smiled and made an inviting gesture.
According to the rules, Priest Plesinus was not allowed to attend the meeting of the ministers of the kingdom, but as a member of the preparation team, he had received an invitation today. Although he was already over 70 years old, his face was still glowing and his spirit was hale and hearty. He smiled and looked even more benevolent. "Before answering Lord Tapirus' question, I would first like to sincerely thank His Majesty for holding such a grand sports meeting with such great courage, giving the Temple of Hades such a good opportunity to show the light and glory of God Hades to the world!"
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