World Press Operations Briefing focuses on 2004 Olympic preparations
( 2003-06-04 09:38 ) (8 )

Almost 200 media representatives from the world's top news organizations are in Athens this week for the 3rd World Press Operations Briefing, which began with a tour of venue by the participants on Monday.

In opening the conference's session on Tuesday, Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee (ATHOC) President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said both ATHOC and the Greek government are optimistic about the Games' prospects, before stressing that all deadlines must absolutely be met.

"We're confident, but not over-confident. There's a great deal of hard work before us," she said.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president Denis Oswald, who also chairs the IOC's Coordination Commission for the2004 Games, told media representatives that the Athens Games will be "different" from past Games.

Oswald praised the facilities as "excellent", noting that the Athens Games will mark the first time that media representatives and staff will be hosted in "press villages", while he said the main press center is the finest of any constructed at Olympic Games so far.