| | Associated Press
ATHENS, Greece -- The chief organizer for the 2004 Olympics
will stay on the job, ending reports she was planning to resign
because of widespread disagreements with the government.
|  | | Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, head of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, exits Premier Costas Simitis' office after a marathon meeting with him in Athens on Monday. |
Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki met with Premier Costas Simitis on
Monday and said her only concern was for Greece to be prepared for
the Olympics.
"There is no misunderstanding" with the government, she said
after her two-hour meeting. There was no comment from the premier
or any government official.
"As long as the preparations continue for the Athens Olympic
Games, I will be happy," she said. "Not me, but all the people
who are working."
Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and her five-member executive board will
meet with Simitis and key Olympics ministers on Tuesday. They will
discuss Olympic preparations leading to a Nov. 22 inspection visit
by the IOC.
A key issue is international broadcast rights. The IOC wants an
agreement by the end of the month.
Angelopoulos-Daskalaki reportedly has had problems with various
ministers involved with the Games, especially the Cabinet member in
charge of building five venues.
Greece has said the projects will be ready by May 2004, but the
IOC wants them ready by the end of 2003. About 30 percent of the
facilities still need to be built.
Angelopoulos-Daskalaki refused to discuss reports that she and
the IOC were dissatisfied with the government's preparations. She
also would not comment on possible changes in the organizing
committee.
"We are continuing our work, and we have much work," she said.
"All the changes that must be made between now and the games will
be made, as happens in every country."
But the length of the meeting suggested Angelopoulos-Daskalaki
and Simitis were trying to smooth over the latest in a series of
troubles plaguing organizers this year.
The turmoil created uncertainty around Greece's preparations,
raising questions about Athens' ability to hold the event.
Earlier this year, IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch warned
that delays were endangering the games. Simitis then appointed
Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, who led the bid team, to restore order to
the organization. | |
ALSO SEE
IOC executive clarifies that Athens will keep Olympics
|
