Rogge roadshow rolls on

Olympic chief Jacques Rogge’s Olympic venue tour roadshow rolled on today with a visit to the main press centre, with the IOC boss declaring the press have never had it so good.

Rogge, who arrived in Athens on Wednesday, continued his whirlwind tour of Olympic venues in illustrious company alongside Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

And after a brief look around what is the largest media centre in Olympic history, Rogge said he was impressed with the facility.

“The IOC insisted that the facilities given to the media would be first class, and I believe that you will all agree with me that the facilities are state of the art,” said the former Olympic yachtsman.

The paint is barely dry on the MPC, with construction workers hurriedly putting up the huge signs around the main entrance only at the end of last week.

But like many other projects completed at the last minute, the finished article is well worth the wait according to Rogge.

“In my humble opinion, and I have been to 16 Olympics, the media have never received such excellent facilities,” he added.

“You know how important the media are for the Olympic games. It is through you the media that the promotion of sport is being done. It is through you that the popularity of the Olympic Games is being relayed to the 202 countries.

Greek PM Karamanlis meanwhile, was on hand to deliver his customary confidence vote that Greece is “ready to show it’s modern face to the world” by putting on an “extraordinary” Games.