An Olympic inspection team in Athens to monitor progress on the 2004 Games told organisers that they had made up lost ground but warned them no further delays could be afforded.

An International Oympic Committee delegation led by coordinating chief Denis Oswald saluted progress at venues, in the troubled transportation area and on security issues after a three-day November visit.

Concrete progress

"It seems the organisers have overcome the administrative hurdles that had been preventing the start of some construction works," said Oswald.

"I am pleased to see that Athens is now taking an Olympic shape thanks to particularly good progress in venue construction, road infrastructure, public transport and accommodation," he said.

But Oswald was keen to point out that the heightened pace must be maintained with less than two years remaining until the opening ceremony.

"It should not be forgotten, however, that the schedules are tight and that there are still areas that need to be monitored closely to ensure that everything is ready on time for the Games."

ATHOC president Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said, "Our meetings with the IOC were very positive."

Problem solving

"We emphasised to Mr Oswald and the Commission that our role is to find solutions to problems and to ensure their implementation without compromising either the quality of the project or the respective timelines.

"That is what we are doing - focusing on solutions, not problems," she said.

The IOC verdict followed a series of intensive meetings with ATHOC counterparts and government ministries, while the inspection team toured key venues in Nikea (Weightlifting), Faliro (Taekwondo, Beach Volley and Handball), Agios Kosmas (Sailing) and Helleniko (Basketball, Canoe-Kayak slalom, and Hockey).

The former airport site on the coast at Helleniko, slated for an indoor basketball arena seating 15,000 was singled out as a potential trouble spot and construction won't begin until the end of the year.

Helleniko headache

"There are still a number of critical areas... specifically at Helleniko basketball hall," said Oswald.

This project, already months behind schedule, has been delayed following a legal battle between two construction firms vying for the project.

ATHOC chief Angelopoulos said organizers had finally met the IOC's accommodation requirements of 20,000 luxury rooms for the extended Olympic family, including IOC members and VIPs.

She said ATHOC would launch a home rental scheme next week in an effort to find much-needed accommodation for hundreds of thousands of visitors expected in Athens during the Games.

Oswald expressed his confidence that the mass of public works that have transformed the Greek capital into a building site would leave a fitting Olympic legacy after the Games.

"ATHOC's work in the organisational aspects of the Games is impressive. Evidence shows that the people of Athens will inherit a new, dynamic city as a result of the Games," he said.