OCI chiefs confident of ‘safe’ Games

IRISH Olympic chiefs are confident that Athens will host a safe and successful Olympic Games in August.

Greek organisers have been beset by construction delays at a number of venues, with work on the main stadium yet to be finished.

Only 24 of 38 venues in Athens have so far been completed, with the Games due to begin on August 13.

The estimated cost has risen from an original £2.7billion to £3.3bn as a number of high-profile projects have suffered serious setbacks.

Such problems have increased security concerns over potential terrorist action.

But the Olympic Council of Ireland is adamant that all the issues will be resolved.

“We have been reassured that everything will be okay on the day,” OCI spokesperson Jack McGouran said yesterday.

“We have had several teams out there over the past number of months and we feel that from an athletes perspective everything will be fine.

“There are a few venues which are behind schedule but none of these will impact on the Irish participants.”

He also dismissed concerns over the lack of a roof on the Olympic pool given the high temperatures experienced in Greece each August.

“It will have no repercussions for our swimmers.

“Most internationally swimming competitions are held outdoor including the recent European championship which were held in Greece.

“None of the construction delays will impact in any way on the performance of our athletes.”

Mr McGouran said that he is completely satisfied by the security procedures which will be in place.

The chief security adviser is Peter Ryan, who was the New South Wales police chief in the lead up to the 2000 Sydney Games.

“Security is always an issue at an Olympic Games and especially for the United Kingdom and the United States. We have been assured by the OCI who have been dealing with the event organisers that it will be totally safe.

“The security will be provided by the organising committee. We would be against this notion of individual security teams for individual nations. Just imagine the problems with 202 teams. It is simply not going to happen.

“We are happy with the arrangements. Our concerns now is to get as many people qualified as possible.

“The Olympic Council of Ireland, the National Federations and the Sports Council are working hard on that now. It may be one of the smallest teams but it will be one of the best prepared,” he vowed.