Olympian effort

Greek premier says hard work for 2004 must continue

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Premier Costas Simitis warned Greeks on Wednesday they must keep working hard and without interruption if they want Athens to host a successful 2004 Olympics.

Reviewing Olympic preparations on the Mediterranean island of Crete, Simitis said Greece had made up for much time lost to delays but said that was no reason to celebrate.

"We will celebrate only after the end of the games and only when we see that everything went as planned," Simitis said. "Today we must work systematically and without interruption to achieve our goal."

Simitis made the comments during a visit to the Cretan port of Iraklion, where the government is building a new soccer stadium. The facility will host the Olympic soccer preliminaries along with two other port cities, central Volos and northern Thessaloniki. Delays have prevented organizers from finding a location for the soccer final, but there are reports it may be held in the main Athens Olympic Stadium. Because the stadium will also be used for other sports, the final could be held during a non prime time slot.

Simitis plans to visit numerous Olympic construction sites during the week, part of an effort to showcase the Socialist government's achievements ahead of municipal elections on Oct. 13. The local elections are considered a crucial political indicator and could serve as a litmus test for national polls set to be held a few months before the Olympics.

During the visit, Simitis said Athens' Olympic preparations will improve Greece's infrastructure, economy and image abroad. Greece is one of the European Union's poorest nations and Olympic construction projects are playing a major role in its economic development.

"With our policy for works throughout the country, we are creating the conditions, so that the Olympiad will be profitable ... to show off the Olympic ideals and reinforce the international position of our country," Simitis said.

Athens got off to a slow start and its preparations were dogged by construction delays and bureaucratic infighting.

"Greece today is like an athlete that is participating in many and difficult games. Despite the constant changes in the international and European scene, we assure that we will have the performance we want," he said.

Simitis also addressed another problem faced by organizers and urged Greeks to become Olympic volunteers.

Greeks do not have a tradition of volunteerism and Athens organizers have said they have met 25 percent of their targeted 150,000 people.

In an effort to attract people, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos announced he will submit legislation to Parliament providing incentives to civil servants and soldiers who want to volunteer.

The military incentives reportedly include a promotion for reserve officers and a 20-day postponement of mandatory military duty for soldiers. Civil servants will get an extra 20 days paid vacation if they participate in the volunteer program.

The IOC has said as long as the Athens organizers do not have to pay for volunteers, there is no problem with incentives.

 

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