In return, Athens agreed to introduce a new round of austerity measures, including job cuts and tax rises.

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Mr Cook suggested the British Museum could have an annex in Athens and in return would be able to show more Greek antiquities in Britain.

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The 31-year-old, who retired after the Athens 2004 Olympics and lost more than seven stone to return to international competition in Delhi, had already taken 50m butterfly silver.

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But the British Museum has refused to return its Parthenon sculptures, almost all of which were brought back from Athens in the early 19th century by the British diplomat, Lord Elgin.

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