Greece said Wednesday it was now ready to stage the Olympic Games but that years of delays and infighting had pushed up the cost of the huge enterprise beyond all expectations.
With only nine days to go before the August 13-29 Games, Greek officials rejoiced at the smooth implementation of their transport and security plans but said costs had forced the country's 2004 budget deficit way over European Union limits.
A 24-hour strike by Athens hotel workers and tourist industry disappointment over poor hotel bookings further dampened enthusiasm for Greece's last-minute Olympic turnaround.
"The way things are going, the budget deficit is heading towards four percent (of GDP), maybe a bit over," Deputy Finance Minister Petros Doukas said. The EU's limit is three percent.
Doukas said the 2004 cost of various Olympic projects would exceed three billion euros ($3.6 billion) compared to an original estimate of 1.4 billion euros. The total cost of the Games would rise to six billion euros compared to 4.6 billion budgeted.
Regardless of the price, International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Jacques Rogge said Wednesday he was sure that the city was ready. "I think this is a magic moment," he said after stepping off the plane in Athens.
A Greek government Olympic coordination body said after a meeting on Wednesday that all was well — Greece's one billion euro security plan was in place and operating smoothly while the public had welcomed the Games transport system.
Amidst the heightened security, Greek police on Wednesday said they were investigating a minor bomb blast that damaged the toilet of a building belonging to an Athens highway company. The building was not close to any Olympic venue.
The small explosion, which occurred early Wednesday when the auxiliary building in the western Athens district of Acharnes was empty, baffled authorities, who did not receive any warning call or claim of responsibility.
‘A great feat’
As well as the security plan being in place, Greek officials said the rest of the Athens infrastructure was ready.
"We are ready to carry out impressive games," said Deputy Culture Minister, in charge of Olympics preparations, Fani Palli Petralia. "Everything is ready. Greece is carrying out a great feat. The participation of the public is huge."
But Greece's tourist industry complained on Wednesday that foreign arrivals had dropped by 12 percent compared to last year and hoteliers were offering last-minute deals to fill up rooms.
Athens hotel workers added to the city's woes by staging a 24-hour warning strike demanding better pay and threatening to extend it to the Olympics.
The birthplace of both the ancient and modern Olympics, Greece fought hard to convince the IOC it could handle the 2004 Games.
The smallest country to host the Olympics since Finland in 1952, it wasted precious time on political infighting and bureaucracy and prompted stern warnings from the IOC.
Delays in building key venues and transport forced the government to pay contractors to work around the clock in order to finish on time.
"When you are under great pressure you are at the mercy of the construction industry," said Australian Olympic Committee chief John Coates.
Coates said Sydney, hosts of the much-praised 2000 Games, which cost Australia five billion Australian dollars ($3.51 billion), had planned and started construction much earlier.
But he praised the quality of the Greek venues.
"A lot of venues are better than they were at Sydney, they have been scaled bigger and better," Coates said. "The Olympic village is certainly a better venue. It's a little short on landscaping but it makes up for that with dogs."
Greece sent dogcatchers to the athletes' Olympic village this week after complaints that strays being fed by guards were roaming the area. (Additional reporting by the Athens bureau)
