Sydney Opera House to Project Greek Flag for Greece’s Bicentennial

In a surprise ruling, the New South Wales government agreed that the iconic Sydney Opera House will be bedecked in the Greek flag for March 25, the Bicentennial of the War of Independence.

Sydney Opera House going Greek

After being turned down the first time that they had asked for the honor, the Greek community of the city was told that the Greek flag would indeed be projected onto the white “sails” of the building.

The New South Wales Government rejected the initial request, according to Australian news reports.

Letters to the New South Wales premier reportedly did no good. Mark Buttigieg, a member of the opposition party in the NSW parliament spoke forcefully for the proposal, explaining how much the day meant to Greeks, who are a large part of the city’s residents.

The MP called out the government for what he called its “rank hypocrisy” after posting the video of his speech to social media.

“Today in Parliament – I pointed out the Berejiklian government’s rank hypocrisy – it’s fine to project adverts for gambling onto the Sydneyt Opera House but not the Greek flag in recognition of Greek Independence Day!

“The Berejiklian Government should respect the wonderful people with Greek heritage that live in our state!” he concluded angrily.

The speech must have worked since just one day after Buttigieg’s speech, NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian agreed to the projection of the flag onto the sides of the iconic Sydney Opera House, saying “I am delighted to confirm that the Sydney Opera House will be lit on 25 March to commemorate 200 years of Greek Independence.

“We are proud to share this moment of history with our Greek community in NSW.”

Greece’s Bicentennial

Prince Charles and President of France Emmanuel Macron will lead a host of foreign dignitaries that will be coming to Greece for the bicentennial of the War of Independence on March 25.