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Suburban Train Ready In Time For Athens 2004 Games

Greek Transport Minister Christos Verelis said that a 51 km (31-mile) electrified train line linking the Greek capital’s new international airport to Athens and the port of Piraeus, will be ready a few months before the Athens 2004 Olympic begins.

The minister told Agence France-Presse that construction had been delayed by a holdup in the signing of contracts to build the trains after the company changed ownership and he admitted that the contract had yet to be finalized.

He said, “if the trains are not delivered on time, it is planned to hire the electrical equipment in order to fulfill needs for the Olympic Games” and added that the line would be in operation by spring 2004.

Meanwhile, IOC committee member Mario Vazquez Rana admitted Athens had been slow in preparing for the 2004 Games, but insisted it would stage a great event.

He said, “they have great history and culture behind them. They still have two years ahead. There will always be some problems. But I can say with certainty that Athens will stage a great Game(s)”.

An Athens progress report will be presented during the four-day Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) general assembly in Kuala Lumpur starting Wednesday.

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