PRAGUE 04/07/2003 (ANA - D. Kalabakas)
Athens 2004 organizers (ATHOC) on Thursday briefed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the Lausanne-based organization’s 115th session here, with ATHOC chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki presenting plans for competitions, facilities, various ongoing construction works, security, the volunteers program, transports and hospitality.
 “We’re nearing the final stretch with great speed and confidence. We still have a lot to do,” she told the IOC’s leader-ship and delegates from around the world.
 However, the ATHOC chief appeared confident that Athens would be able to pull off splendid Games.
 Both IOC President Jacques Rogge and top executive Denis Oswald, who heads the IOC commission overseeing progress for the 2004 Games, complemented organizers over their stepped up efforts to make up for past delays and to achieve the current rate of progress.
 However, Oswald again cited a handful of projects he said were on very tight deadlines, including the Karaiskaki stadium where the soccer finals will be held; a 2.5-kilometre coastal stretch of the new Athens tram network, as well as an ambitious project to build a state-of-the-art glass/metal dome over the main Olympic stadium (OAKA).
 "Athens faces a huge challenge. There can be no more incidents,"
Oswald reiterated in the Czech capital.
 The Swiss IOC vice-president will, in fact, return to Athens between July 15-17 to head up an inspection team some 13 months’ before the Games return to the place of their birth.

Source: Athens News Agency

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