Tuesday, October 17 Greek premier meets with 2004 organizers
	Associated Press ATHENS, Greece -- The premier of Greece warned both his government and organizers on Tuesday that the Olympics were a race the country cannot afford to lose. Costas Simitis asked organizers of the 2004 Games to put aside differences with the government and focus on preparing for the Olympics. "It's like the first bell has been rung," said spokesman Tilemahos Hitiris, comparing preparations to the last lap of a foot race. Costas met for five hours with senior ministers and the Athens organizers. His construction minister also promised to speed construction of five Olympic venues, a key demand by the International Olympic Committee. Simitis also said he was not planning to replace Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki as head of the Athens Organizing Committee, and asked all Greek Olympics officials to stop quarreling. "There has to be self-control from everyone because it doesn't contribute to the climate which must be formed for a good and quick preparation of the Olympic Games," Hitiris said. Earlier this month, the IOC official overseeing preparations called for a "truce" between the government and organizers. Jacques Rogge will visit Athens on Nov. 22 to assess preparations. Reports had been circulating for weeks that Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and the IOC were dissatisfied with government bureaucracy and delays. Angelopoulos-Daskalaki had reportedly been ready to resign out of frustration with the government. Smiling as she emerged from the meeting, Angelopoulos-Daskalaki did not comment. The recent turmoil created uncertainty around Greece's preparations, raising questions about Athens' ability to hold the event. "There is optimism," Hitiris said. "There is good cooperation between the ministers and 2004 and that is how we will continue, with effectiveness. We believe in the Olympic Games completely." According to Hitiris, Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis promised to bring forward the construction deadline for Olympic venues and present Rogge with the new timetable. Greece has previously said the projects would 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. "The minister expressed his optimism and said that in November he will present the exact dates," Hitiris. Athens must have some roadworks ready for the Olympics, including ring roads around the capital and a highway to the new international airport. "There is no reason to worry," Laliotis said. Traffic is one of Athens' most serious problems, with nearly 2 million cars in this city of more than 4 million. Because of heavy traffic during a transit strike last week, drivers needed about 90 minutes to travel the 7.5 miles from the Olympic Sports complex to downtown.		ALSO SEE Chief organizer for Athens stays on job