This week the organising committee for the Athens Olympics briefed the Coordination Commission of the IOC for the 12th and final time.
Athens 2004 President, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki issued the following statement:
‘In 2000, we began meeting under the shadow of a yellow card and, since then, we have done seven years’ work in just four years’ time. This is a fact and it’s proof of what we Greeks can do when we work in a focused and professional way.
We assured the Coordination Commission that in three months, when the world’s best athletes come to Greece for the historic homecoming of the Olympic Games, we will be ready to welcome them. Athens will be great for the athletes and Greece will be good for the Games.
On Monday, the roof of the main Olympic Stadium began moving into place. Many said ‘thank heaven’ that this progress is finally being made.
And we agree. But we also believe that so many people have been looking at the sky waiting for the roof to move, that they have lost sight of the progress being made here on the ground, all around them.
The Olympic Village is nearing completion; fifteen venues have been completed; ten sports venues and a media village have been delivered; virtually all-remaining venues are at least 85 per cent complete.
Seven large–scale security exercises have been held with the participation of international observers and personnel; the 8th security exercise begins this week. Our hard telecommunications infrastructure has been put in place and tested, structured cabling work has been completed in 37 venues.
A record 160,000 volunteer applications have been processed, 86,000 applicants have been interviewed.
Our state-of-the-art sports venues have been successfully tested during 38 sport events. The athletes and officials who have taken part in these events have rewarded our efforts with extraordinary praise for our facilities and for our organization. Many have said that our venues are the ‘best in the world’.
From the beginning, we have put the safety and security of athletes and spectators first. This summer, no nation will be doing more than Greece to protect those within its borders. No Organizing Committee and no host Government have ever put greater emphasis on safety and security – in the Olympic Village, in the venues where athletes will compete and in the city itself.
Greece has the budget, the personnel, and the security strategy that will allow us to do everything humanly possible to protect our visitors and our citizens during the Olympic Games. And we have also assembled a first-rate team of international partners who have been working with us for years to erect the Games’ security shield.
Before closing, let me thank every member of the IOC Coordination Commission, the IOC staff and most importantly, the ATHOC staff, all of whom have made this process work. We have come a long way, and the end of our journey is in sight.
By placing athletes at the centre of all of our plans, Athens has embraced the original spirit and meaning of the Games. Seven years ago we promised that Athens would be good for the athletes, and Greece would be good for the Games. Our promise is being kept.’
For more details contact:
ATHOC
International Media Desk
T: +30 1 2004 002
F: +30 1 2004 003
E: mediadesk@athens2004.gr