Samaranch issues threat to 2004 Olympic hosts

Olympic chief Juan Antonio Samaranch has issued a warning to Athens that the 2004 Summer Games could be endangered if the Greeks failed to improve their organisation drastically by the end of the year.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, a career diplomat who chooses his words carefully, handed out the most blunt and serious warning to the hosts of an Olympic Games in his two decades in charge of the organisation.

"There are three phases with organisation. The green light is that all is going well, the yellow is that the Games has many problems and the red light is that the Games are in danger." Samaranch told a meeting of sports and Olympic chiefs where Athens chiefs were present.

"We are at the end of the yellow phase. If from now until the end of the year there are not drastic changes, we will enter the red phase."

Afterwards he told a news conference: "The Games were awarded to Athens more than 2 1/2 years ago. There are only four years to the opening ceremony. It is time for the government to take the responsibility."

In Athens, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said in a statement: "Greece will respond fully to the honour it was given to host the 2004 Olympics. Our country has faced and is overcoming any problems and is readying for the great world event.

"Organising the Olympics is a top priority for our government. It is certain that the 2004 Olympic Games will be crowned with success."

Asked if he had ever before faced such problems, Samaranch said: "Not during my presidency. I remember in 1976 the organisation of the Montreal Games was not easy. Even the stadium was not finished. But afterwards the organisation was first class."

Athens won a tight battle with Rome to hosts the Games in September 1997 in an IOC vote in Lausanne.

The IOC made it clear that there were no plans to move the Games to another city. But chiefs are concerned about the structure of the Greek organisation and problems with key subjects like accommodation.

Costas Vernikos, a spokesman for Athens 2004, said he was certain the organisers could reverse the situation by the end of the year.

"There is nothing that is non-reversible." he said. "We are certain we can make it within the next eight months."

Jacques Rogge, who is in charge of coordinating the organisation of the Games, told the meeting about his concerns regarding the hotels that need to be built in the Greek capital.

"We still need 25,000 rooms." Rogge said. "We need a sense of urgency and to understand the scope of the Games...There is too much red tape and bureaucracy in making decisions."

Samaranch said he had warned the Greeks in private several months ago about speeding up their preparations.

But he added: "I can't imagine that the Games will not be held in Athens. They have the capacity to hold the Games. The Greeks have great enthusiasm about the Games."

Sepp Blatter, head of the world soccer body FIFA, said: "Samaranch's warning is a yellow card. They have to wake up and really tackle this problems.

IOC vice-president Dick Pound said a major crisis would be needed before the Games would be taken away.

"It would have to be a major crisis before the Games would be taken away. In Greece it takes time to do things." he said.