Newsroom
What happens when Adidas drones buzz near the Acropolis? Apparently, a legal kerfuffle and a lively debate about mixing business with ancient history.
On May 15, a flashy drone light show lit up the sky above Athens’ Zappeion Hall, with buzzing drones allegedly forming the Adidas logo and a sneaker, right next to the iconic Acropolis backdrop. The videos went viral fast, but not everyone was cheering. Some officials and opposition voices quickly pointed fingers, saying it was a bit too much commercialization of Greece’s precious cultural gems.
The Ministry of Culture didn’t waste time. They filed a legal complaint, suspecting the drone show might have stepped on some archaeological toes. Chief Prosecutor Aristeidis Koreas jumped in, launching a swift investigation to see if any laws protecting ancient sites were broken. The Acropolis Security Department is now on the case.
Adidas responded coolly, saying the show was strictly over Zappeion Hall’s grounds and that they never used images of the Acropolis for advertising. They also claimed all permits were in hand. According to official documents, the drone crew paid a modest €380 fee to use a small patch of space near the Zappeion.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierakakis is asking some tough questions about how these events get approved, pointing out that the current rules might be a bit outdated, and the fees a bit too friendly. Good news: new laws might shake things up to better protect public spaces and ensure fair prices.
The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the drone flights were fully licensed and safe but noted they don’t oversee how images from such events get used afterward.
Opposition parties were quick to chime in. SYRIZA called the show an “offensive commercialization” of Greece’s heritage, especially since filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos was recently denied access to the Acropolis for filming. PASOK said it was a “sad reminder” of why protecting cultural landmarks matters.
