Rogge doubtful about Athens Games

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Feb 28, 2004 | by Stephen Wilson Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece -- When an IOC president visits a host city before the Olympics, he usually heaps praise on the organizers and predicts fantastic Games. Jacques Rogge delivered a pointedly different message Friday.

Just 5 1/2 months before the opening ceremony, Rogge talked about his expectations with a caveat: "If the Athens Games run smoothly and, I repeat, if they go smoothly."

And, in a new tone of uncertainty, the head of the Greek organizing committee expressed worry over whether some key Olympic projects will be completed in time for the Aug. 13-29 Games.

"We are concerned because several challenges are in front of us," Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said. "But we haven't come this far to let challenges like these stop us now."

Also Friday, the IOC reinstated Iraq's Olympic committee, clearing the way for up to two dozen Iraqi athletes to compete under their national flag in Athens.

Rogge's guarded assessment of Athens' preparations came in a speech at a meeting of the IOC executive board and the Association of National Olympic Committees.

His remarks contrasted sharply with his more recent upbeat comments and appeared aimed at instilling a sense of greater urgency with the Greek organizers.

"There's still a lot to do -- we have only five and a half months," Rogge said. "Our experts say if the pace and the rhythm of the work continues, there is enough time to finish in due time."

The IOC regularly keeps up pressure on host cities, but it's extremely rare for an IOC president to raise doubts about the success of an Olympics so close to the opening.

Rogge previously led the IOC's oversight panel for Athens, and this will be his first Summer Olympics as president since his election in 2001.

The comments by Rogge and the Athens organizing chief also appeared directed at government and political officials before national elections set for March 7.

The governing socialist PASOK Party is being challenged by the conservative New Democracy Party. A change in leadership so close to the Games could further hold up Olympic preparations.

The IOC issued a strong warning to Athens organizers in 2000 after three years of delays. The government since increased its involvement, and Angelopoulos-Daskalaki took over the organizing committee.

Security remains a major issue.

The Athens Olympics are the first Summer Games since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Greece has budgeted more that $800 million for security, more than three times what was spent to make the 2000 Sydney Games safe.

Domestic terrorism is also a worry. On Thursday, anti-Olympic activists firebombed two government vehicles to coincide with the IOC meetings. Rogge said the Greek government was taking all possible scenarios into account in security planning.

The IOC board lifted the suspension of Iraq's national Olympic committee, which was dismantled 10 months ago after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime.

Even if the new committee had not been recognized by the IOC, Iraqi athletes would have been free to compete in Athens under the Olympic flag.

Iraqi athletes could compete in wrestling, track and field, swimming, boxing, weightlifting and taekwondo. The Iraqi soccer team also is attempting to qualify.