IOC offers praise after visiting soccer venues

LONDON (AP) - IOC officials have praised preparations for the London Olympics after a weeklong tour of soccer venues around the country.

IOC executives Denis Oswald and Gilbert Felli completed a four-day "project review'' Thursday, less than six months before the opening ceremony on July 27.

They visited stadiums in Coventry, Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester and Cardiff. They attended Manchester United's 2-0 win over Stoke at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

Felli, the IOC's executive director of the Olympic Games, tells The Associated Press "they have fantastic stadiums in Britain and we have no worries.''

While hundreds of thousands of Olympic soccer tickets remain unsold, Felli said demand will pick up once the draw for the tournament is held on April 24.

The IOC also held separate meetings with organizers on various issues, including plans for the opening ceremony.

Felli says "we remain very optimistic and very positive about the quality and level of preparations.''