(31 Dec 2001)
1. Panoramic view of Athens
2. Acropolis
3. Euro sign hanging from building
4. People setting up fireworks for euro launch
5. People making jigsaw out of euro in front of fireworks display
6. Various newsstand with headlines reading "Good morning euro", "Goodbye drachma, "First foot with the euro"
7. National Bank of Greece sign with clock saying 12 hours to countdown
8. Parliament Building
9. Greek guards outside parliament
10. People walking in shopping area
11. SOUNDBITE (Greek) Vox pop, Athens resident
"I'm happy with the way we've become part of Europe with this currency. I'm not sorry that the drachma is going, but I think it will be difficult for people in the beginning."
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Vox pop, British tourist
"I think it's inevitable that Britain will join eventually because euro coins and the euroland, as it's called now, will be such a big economic force."
13. SOUNDBITE: (Greek) Vox pop, Athens resident
"I'm sorry that the drachma is going, it was part of our lives. We grew up with it, but the euro is a good thing."
14. Father Christmas by reindeer in shopping area
15. People in shopping area
16. Boys blowing balloons with advertisement to balloons
17. Shop window with women's clothes
18. Shop window showing prices in drachmas and euros
19. Various people buying goods in Body Shop
20. Street in Athens
STORYLINE:
As Greece counts down to the euro, many in the capital, Athens, appear not too bothered that the drachma will disappear.
High inflation in the past and a desire to be an integral part of the Europe Union means that Greece is looking forward to the euro.
Ignoring a small five-year blip in the 1800s, the Greek drachma is the world's oldest currency dating from the mid-sixth century BC, drawing its name from the word for a "handful".
By the time the republic was declared in 1924, the number of coins in circulation had dwindled and there was a serious shortage of cash.
Inflation during World War II was dramatic leaping from 12-hundred drachma to the pound in January 1941 to one point 219 (B) billion drachma in October 1944.
A currency reform introduced a new drachma which was worth 50 (B) billion of the old variety but inflation continues at a slower rate.
Although major retailers and companies had supplied themselves with euros, committee members said small
businesses such as kiosks were still lagging.
They said about 50 percent still had to supply themselves with the new currency.
Euro starter kits, however, proved popular with Greeks snapping up about 85 percent of three (M) million made
available on December 17.
Meanwhile, the government and and business leaders last Thursday said Greece was fully prepared to switch from the drachma to the euro on January 1 and called on Greeks to show patience with their new currency.

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