Comments on Athens put IOC boss on defensive
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-06-14 06:56

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge on Saturday launched a defence of the much-maligned Athens Olympics after he came under fire for allegedly criticizing the event which gets under way in 62 days.

Rogge was reported by an Australian website to have said that the selection of Athens was "not the easy way."

"The easy way would have been to vote for Rome, which is a much bigger city, but I think in terms of values, return to the origin and in terms for saying thank you to the Greeks who invented the games 3,000 years ago, then it was worthwhile."

But the Greeks are upset by an alleged exchange between Rogge and an Australian reporter when asked for what his comments might be at the end of the Games on August 29.

"Well, I might start by saying that these were not the best ever games, but....," was the alleged Rogge reply.

Rogge was forced to issue a statement on Saturday to clarify what he said.

"When I was elected, I said very publicly and clearly, before Salt Lake City 2002 which were my first Olympic Games as IOC President, I would never say 'best Games ever' because it is not fair to compare Games in different times.

"I'm quite sure I will be able to give a very positive note to Athens, but I would not use the words 'best Games ever.'

"There are still works that have to be finished and finalized. I have no particular worries. There is still a lot to be done, but ATHOC (the local organizing committee) and the government are working extremely fast and extremely well.

"Nobody knows today what the budget will be. We will only know after the Games. And what is needed now is to finish all the works that still remain to be done: I'm very confident that will be the case."

The president of ATHOC, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalakis, telephoned Rogge on Saturday to express her unhappiness, said a source.

"I can repeat what I have always said," added Rogge.

"I have always supported Gianna Angelopoulos, ATHOC and the government. I have always said the Greeks will organize a very good Olympics and I am repeating that today."

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