Denis Oswald, chief IOC coordinator for Athens 2004, said an innovative glass and steel dome at the main stadium for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, is seriously under threat. The project by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, considered Athens 2004 “jewel in the crown of the 2004 Games”, may have to be scrapped because of construction delays at the venue.
Oswald said that unless serious guarantees were given, the plug would be pulled on the project.
He said, “the glass roof of the stadium is the difficult part of this project and I told the organizers to go ahead with the roof only if they are sure it would be completed on time. We need to have every guarantee that this part will be finished and we don’t find ourselves with just half a roof during the Games”.
The structure is scheduled to be ready a few months prior to the Games which being in August 2004. Various parts are being built outside Greece, including Germany and Italy, before it will be assembled in Athens.
According to Oswald a decision on the project would be taken in several months time.
