IOC president Jacques Rogge said today he was confident Athens would be ready to stage the 2004 Games.
The International Olympic Committee team, headed by chief Athens inspector Denis Oswald, are concerned by long delays in sports and infrastructure projects, including the Games' soccer venue and a massive steel and glass roof for the main Olympic stadium.
Oswald said some preparations were three months behind schedule but Rogge told a Greek newspaper today he was confident Athens would be ready for the Games which start in August 2004.
"I have confidence that at the last moment things will be ready," Rogge told the daily Kathimerininewspaper.
"We will have to continue to monitor and ask for an acceleration, but I am confident that at the end, things will come together."
Rogge had reprimanded Athens organisers (ATHOC) in February, telling them to speed up preparations.
It was the second time in three years the IOC has warned Athens.
The first time, in 2000, it said Athens risked losing the Games if it did not resolve disputes.
Rogge said the preparations fell behind at the start of work which was why Greece now had to work at breakneck speed to catch up.
