'Symbolic day'

IOC sends out invitations to Athens 2004

Jacques Rogge (right) and Athens chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki pose with Greece's invitation. AP

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- In a quirky consequence of Olympic tradition, the International Olympic Committee celebrated the one-year countdown to the Athens 2004 Olympics on Wednesday by handing the first invitation to the host nation itself.

IOC president Jacques Rogge and Athens organizing chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki were among the guests at a ceremony which was broadcast live to revelers in Athens.

Invitations are sent to National Olympic Committees a year before each Olympic Games, with Greece -- the birthplace of the Olympics and hosts of the first modern Games in 1896 -- traditionally receiving the first one in ceremonious fashion. The Summer Games are staged every leap year.

"It is a very symbolic day," Rogge said. "In 366 days on August 13 at 8:00 p.m., the games will be inaugurated in Athens. The IOC has the privilege to send out invitations to a record number of 201 National Olympic Committees.

"I find it quite amusing I'm here at this ceremony inviting the president of the Greek Olympic Committee to participate in the games in his own country, but that is the tradition."

Rogge spoke at length about the city's preparations, though it was unclear whether he was delivering a veiled warning or simply displaying confidence in Athens' ability to be ready on time for the games.

"It is the difficulty but also the beauty of the games, that one has to be ready at a set time and date, after being awarded the Olympics seven years beforehand. It is like the beauty of sports, when we ask athletes to perform at their peak at a certain time and date set seven years beforehand.

"The athletes will be ready, the media are ready, the international federations, the officials and judges are ready," Rogge continued before looking at Angelopoulos-Daskalaki. "The organizing committee will be ready in due time."

Athens had long been criticized for delays in construction of Olympic venues and facilities.

It has since made up for some of the delays. Last week a series of test events kicked off to help organizers gauge preparations, and Greek officials insist everything is under control.

However, other issues remain a worry, particularly security despite a US$600 million plan to protect a country that has porous borders and its own homegrown terrorist group.

And the city is still struggling to keep up the pace of construction as it frantically tries to get ready in time for the games, which will bear little resemblance to the event staged there 108 years earlier.

In 1896, 245 athletes from 14 countries gathered for the first modern Olympics before large and excited crowds in the ancient Panathenaic stadium.

Next year, some 10,500 are expected to take part in Athens.

"Today with Greece and President Rogge we are completing history over 100 years in the making," Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said. "This is a homecoming for athletes, for the nations of the world, for all of us."

She played down the problems with preparations, labeling them "challenges" and "opportunities."

During the ceremony, Rogge signed invitations for 17 of the 201 recognized national Olympic committees worldwide: Greece, Italy, China and Canada, where the future games will be held; Cuba, Turkey, Germany, Britain, Spain, Russia, the United States, France and Brazil, who have put forth applicant cities to host the 2012 Olympics; Afghanistan, whose suspension was lifted last month; East Timor and Kiribati, whose Olympic Committees were recently recognized; and Switzerland, home of the IOC headquarters.

"It is symbolic that the IOC is sending out invitations to all the countries of the world, and all the countries of the world will be represented," Rogge said. "Afghanistan athletes, Iraqi athletes and athletes from East Timor: all three countries have been affected by war in recent years."

Iraq's committee is still awaiting formal recognition from the IOC. In the meantime Rogge will send the invitation to the provisional body and he said the IOC was willing to spend whatever necessary to get Iraqi athletes to Athens.

The IOC dissolved Iraq's Olympic program, formerly headed by Saddam Hussein's son, Odai, who was accused of torturing and jailing athletes who did not perform up to his standards.

The committee's Baghdad headquarters were largely destroyed in bombing raids early in the Iraq war.

However, a three-member delegation from the IOC completed a nine-day visit last month to Baghdad to identify athletes who might be able to participate in the Athens Games and helping set up a new NOC.

Rogge said Iraqi athletes will be eligible to compete in Athens no matter how long it takes to form a recognized new Olympics committee. If necessary, Iraqi athletes could compete in Athens under the Olympic flag, with the Olympic anthem played if they won a medal.

Similar arrangements were made for athletes from the former Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and East Timor.

Iraq sent 46 athletes to the 1980 Moscow Olympics but only four to the 2000 Sydney Games.

Rental agents announce prices for private apartments

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Renting a private home during the Olympics will cost at least euro840 ($940) through official agents working to offset Athens' acute accommodations shortage, according to figures released Wednesday.

Nearly all of the city's best hotel rooms -- as well as several cruise ships -- have been reserved for the "Olympic family" that includes sports officials and sponsors. Most spectators and others are left to find private lodging.

Next year's Olympics run from Aug. 13-29. The rental period, however, goes from July 10, 2004 to Sept. 10, 2004 with a minimum six-night stay required.

Prices for six nights begin at euro840 ($940) per person, the official rental agency list said. The most expensive is euro1,200 ($1,344) per person for six nights.

A 20 percent extra charge is added for places one kilometer (620 yards) from the main Olympic complex. Ten percent is added for apartments with a sea view or close to other venues.

Prices for deluxe rentals, which include villas and luxurious apartments, are given upon request. The monthly rental charges also were not published on the list.

The prices include transport to and from the airport, a cleaning service every three days, liability insurance and an emergency hotline.

 

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