 A labourer at work on the Olympic Stadium site in Athens |
Greek officials have revealed work on the Olympic Stadium in Athens will be completed only three weeks before the start of the Games. Delays in construction of the roof means it will not be ready until 20 July, so pre-Games test events will go ahead with work still in progress.
The new minister in charge of the Games, Fani Palli-Petralia, said: "We are moving at the limit."
The Games begin on August 13 and many venues have yet to be completed.
However Dimitris Kallitsantsis, chief executive of the construction company in charge of the work, says event testing will not be affected.
"Test events will be held as planned, there is perfect coordination," he said.
"Nobody will have to climb on the roof for television coverage.
"The only thing the roof has to do with television is the lights on it, and they will be installed in time."
The build-up to the Games has been hit by delays and concerns that some venues will not be ready in time.
Meanwhile organisers are planning to put a plastic-coated tarpaulin roof over the Olympic swimming pool.
The roof will suspended on four pylons and officials say it will be open ended to allow air to circulate.
MMIX
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