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Premier tries to restore order to 2004 chaos Associated Press ATHENS, Greece -- Premier Costas Simitis met with a key adviser Thursday to try to restore order to Athens' efforts to organize the 2004 Olympics. His talks with Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos, who oversees the 2004 Games, came after a series of unscheduled meetings with senior officials involved in Olympic preparations. "They reviewed the attempt being made by our country, the results that we have achieved so far," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said. He also denied persistent reports that senior officials in the Athens organizing committee were preparing to resign because of disputes with the government. Athens organizers also denied any resignations had been tendered. Among the officials who held an unscheduled meeting with Simitis was 2004 general manager Petros Sinadinos. Reppas denied reports that Sinadinos offered to resign during the meeting because of frustration with government bureaucracy. But the reports have generated an image of chaos in relations among Olympic organizing leader Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, her top aides and the government. Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, who ran the successful bid effort, has been in London for the past week. She is scheduled to discuss the games with Simitis early next week. "Many things have occurred over the past two months and there are normal rifts that this huge endeavor brings," Sinadinos told Athens' Flash radio after meeting with Simitis. "The government and 2004 are two sides of the same coin, of the same medal, to use Olympic terms," he said. "They are condemned to sail together, to go forward in harmonious coexistence and cooperation on a daily basis." But the debate over Greece's ability to organize the games was further fueled by statements made by the International Olympic Committee executive overseeing the games preparations, Jacques Rogge. Earlier this week, Rogge called for a "truce" between the government and 2004 organizers in order to be united. Reports say many of the problems focus on relations between Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis, responsible for building the sports venues Athens needs for the games. About 30 percent of the facilities still need to be built. Rogge said Athens needs to move up the deadline for completion of sports venues. The Greek government targeted March 2004 for completion of the work, but the IOC says all venues must be ready a year earlier. Greece holds national elections in April 2004, a poll that could lead to a change of government and create further problems for the games. That could lead the Socialist government to call early elections. |  | ALSO SEE IOC executive clarifies that Athens will keep 2004 Olympics Athens wants IOC to end ultimatums IOC official calls for 'truce' among squabbling Greeks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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