Denis Oswald, head of the International Olympic Committee’s inspection team in Athens for a three-day tour of the city, said current security plans were incomplete and that a full-scale strategy must be completed this week.
Oswald also told ATHOC to come up with firm commitments to cover a hotel room shortfall rather than just present “nice words”.
He told The Associated Press that security experts gave a “mixed report” at the start of a three-day inspection visit to the site of the 2004 Summer Games.
Although Athens security experts have repeatedly pledged they will take all necessary measures against terrorism and other possible attacks, Oswald said he saw some holes and asked for a full report by Friday, the end of the inspection visit.
Oswald said, “some aspects have not been properly covered so far. For example, security in public transport, underground, the trains”. He added that better security arrangements were needed on venues that have not been built.
Construction delays “influence everything” from ticketing to surveillance camera placement. And in “most of the venues this planning has not been done”, he said.
He was most concerned about construction timetables for two venues at the former international airport – the canoe and slalom course, and the basketball arena.
He also wants clear answers on how to resolve a hotel room shortfall for the “Olympic family” which includes sport federation officials and sponsors.
Another concern for Oswald was a recent legal challenge by Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos to a proposed suburban rail line. The new trains have been seen as a key to easing Athens’ notorious gridlock, but the lawsuit says the railway could actually worsen traffic in some congested areas. After meeting with the mayor, Oswald said he was confident the mayor would try to resolve the issue.
Transport Minister Christos Verelis pledged Tuesday that a suburban rail, seen as key to Olympic transport, would be finished by 2004.
