Two days before the arrival of IOC inspectors, Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, the government’s chief Olympic planner, appealed to Greeks on Tuesday to believe in their ability to manage the 2004 Summer Games.
But he offered no new evidence of progress to challenge gloomy predictions surrounding Greece’s preparations for the Games.
Venizelos urged Greeks to stop “stereotyping themselves” as unable to handle an Olympics.
But various polls and commentaries repeatedly cast doubt on Greece’s Olympic planning, which is mired in construction delays and other problems. The polls indicate that bigger worries confront citizens in the European Union’s poorest nation.
IOC inspectors will be in Greece Thursday to begin a two-day inspection. They have growing concerns over whether Athens can meet construction deadlines and deal with such trouble spots as a shortage of hotel space and traffic congestion.
Venizelos predicted that returning the Games to their ancient birthplace eventually will benefit the IOC. He said it could lead to a “renaissance” following the Salt Lake City bribery scandal.
Meanwhile, the flame that will burn at the Salt Lake Games arrived in Athens Tuesday for a two-week layover before going to the United States.
U.S. Ambassador Thomas Miller carried the torch for one leg in front of the American embassy.
The flame will burn at the stadium until it leaves for Atlanta on Dec. 3, and the U.S. relay will start Dec. 4, following a 65-day 46-state course, arriving in Salt Lake City on Feb. 8.
