Try taking a walk around Athens and you will find cracked sidewalks and cars blocking pedestrian walkways won't make your trek an easy one.

Imagine being blind and taking the same route, or doing so in a wheelchair. This is what Olympic organizers set out to do this month as they embark on a mission to change the city.

A September visit by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) brought promises of improved access and attitudes toward people with disabilities in light of the 2004 Paralympic Games.

"The 12 days of the Paralympics will lead to a series of changes in Greece that will very much improve the quality of life for all of us, and especially for groups of citizens with restricted mobility - such as the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with a disability," Athens 2004 Organizing Committee (ATHOC) President Gianna Angelopoulos said.

"The greatest legacy for all of us will be accessible infrastructure and above all a new social perception," she added.

For years there had been no provisions for the disabled in building construction or city planning. But recently the government made significant changes to its laws.

It already has promised that in addition to sports venues, sidewalks and public buildings such as museums and restaurants, will be accessible. Public services that do not conform may be fined.

"I've been given some great assurances ... and I believe that ATHOC, working with IPC, we will ensure that Athens is 'accessible' by the time of the Games," said IPC President Philip Craven.

Craven, who uses a wheelchair, said he would personally visit central Athens to check accessibility.

"Frequently people give views on accessibility who don't really necessarily have the expertise to give their views," he said.

"I think the people who should be giving views on whether Athens is 'accessible' or not ... are the athletes - people in wheelchairs, blind people. Let's not ask engineers and people like that. Let's get down to the athletes and they tell us where we're at," he added.

Some 4,000 Paralympic athletes from about 130 countries will participate in the 2004 Paralympics that follow the Olympic Games. Paralympic athletes will compete in the same venues.

IPC officials - whose visit came almost exactly two years before the games scheduled for Sept. 17-28, 2004 begin - were pleased with preparations.

"[ATHOC has] been sending staff around to previous games ... I think that's a very positive sign," Craven said, adding that Xavier Gonzales, former managing director in Salt Lake City, Sydney and Atlanta, "the man who knows more about the Paralympic Games than anybody else in the world" was on board to help Athens organizers.

"Greece can create its own very special and brilliant Games, and that's what we're here to do," Craven said.

Athens organizers have made public awareness part of their organization plans.

Angelopoulos said a special educational program about the Paralympics will start with the new academic year in the country's primary and secondary schools.

But students were already aware.

"When I went to schools in Greece ... we were surprised to see that the children already know which the Paralympic sports are. This was a bit of a surprise for us," she said. "It was very significant to see that these groups of youngsters are already well informed about what is due to happen in our country."

"If you take the barriers down, persons with a disability will come out from their homes, you'll see them in the city," Craven added. "That will change the mentality of the population. You probably never see people in wheelchairs at the moment - or very rarely do - you don't see many blind people. And that's what we've got to do."