IOC chief presser at main Olympic stadium

Описание: (9 Aug 2004) SHOTLIST

OAKA Sports Complex, Athens - 9 August 2004
1. Mid shot of Jacques Rogge, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president arriving at Olympic stadium with Athens Organising Committee chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki
2. Mid shot pan from walkway to Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and Rogge talking behind podium
3. Mid shot of Rogge and Daskalaki
4. Mid shot pan from cameras to podium
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jacques Rogge, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President:
"This has been achieved with a great efficiency, amid - I must say - a great widespread scepticism. But this realisation is really the perfect answer given by ATHOC (Athens Organising Committee) and the government to people who have doubted. It's going to leave a great legacy to Greece and to Athens for generations to come."

OAKA Sports Complex, Athens - 8 August 2004:
6. Various of Athens 2004 flags
7. Wide pan outside Olympic Stadium
8. Mid shot outside Olympic Indoor Hall
9. Wide shot Olympic Aquatic Centre
10. Mid shot flags at the Olympic Aquatic Centre
11. Wide shot Olympic Velodrome, pan to Aquatic Centre

OAKA Sports Complex, Athens - 9 August 2004:
12. Mid shot of Jacques Rogge, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President at podium
13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, Athens organising committee chief:
"We are ready. Our people in ATHOC are ready. The volunteers are fantastic. The Greek public has shown an unprecedented support by buying tickets, by being volunteers, by respecting the rules so that our guests will not have any transport problems. I'm very happy. In four days we start. We are ready."
14. Pull out of Rogge and Daskalaki posing to cameras

STORYLINE:

After months of scepticism about the state of its preparations, Athens is now ready to host the 2004 Olympic Games, according to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge.

A relieved IOC president was treated to a tour of the main Olympic Sports Complex on Monday, four days ahead of the opening ceremony for the 2004 Games.

"This has been achieved with a great efficiency, amid - I must say - a great widespread scepticism", Rogge said after checking Athens Olympic stadium which will hold the opening ceremony of the 28the Olympic Games on Friday.

"We are ready. Our people in ATHOC are ready", guaranteed Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, Athens organising committee chief who showed Rogge the 75 000 seat stadium.

Only days before the Athens Olympics, Greek organisers insist the city is ready. They point proudly to the impressive main stadium, the deep-blue swimming complex and other spanking-new facilities that have sprouted in various corners of the city.

Much was left undone in the city's frantic race to the finish. Plans were changed, landscaping was cut back and the roof was left off the swimming pool.

Still, what many critics considered impossible as little as a year ago has suddenly become reality, venues are mainly finished, roads are open, trains and subways are running.

Athens' race to finish, though, will be felt by Greeks long after the games.

The total price tag for the Olympics has grown in the last two years from $5.5 billion to more than $7.2 billion. Some analysts predict the final cost could climb to $12.5 billion. A record $1.5 billion is being spent on security alone.

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