Greece 'guarantees' safe Olympics

Greece's prime minister promised Wednesday to hold safe and successful Olympics despite "choking deadlines" in construction and admissions by his ministers of delays in security preparations at two key sites.

"Not a single hour can be wasted," Premier Costas Caramanlis said in an interview with a magazine issued by organizers of the Aug. 13-29 Games. "Everyone knows that four months before the Olympic Games we are facing chocking deadlines."

But he added: "I want to be clear, our main concern and highest priority in Olympic preparations is to secure the complete safety of the country, of athletes and visitors ... Greece will guarantee safe games."

Caramanlis took personal charge of troubled Olympic preparations after his conservative party won general elections a month ago, ending 11 years of Socialist goverment. His priorities are to overxome urgent delays in vital Olympic projects _ including the main stadium and marathon route _ and security.

Greece is spending more US$800 million to mount massive policing at the games, is receiving assistance from the United States and six other countries, and is seeking the active support of NATO and the European.

Ministers involved with security said preparations have fallen behind at two crucial sites, the Olympic Village and Athens' main port of Piraeus, but refused to give any details and insisted everything will ready by August.

"Time is pressing us ... we have noted delays," said Christos Markoyiannakis, the deputy public order minister, who inspected the Olympic Village and facilities that will house some of the 50,000 security personnel tasked to protect the games.

The remarks were echoed by Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis, in charge of security at Piraeus which will host at least eight cruise ships with some 13,000 visitors and officials.

"There were delays in security but all necessary measures will be taken," Kefaloyiannis said. "All the cruise ships will dock here, and as you understand they are targets for a possible terrorist attack."

He said a major drill involving the coast guard and other agencies will be held in Piraeus and other ports before the games.

>Greece is spending more US$800 million to mount massive policing at the games, is receiving assistance from the United States and six other countries, and is seeking the active support of NATO and the European.
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Thou still unravished bride of quietness,
Thou foster child of silence and slow time,
Sylvan historian, who canst thus express
A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme:
What leaf-fringed legend haunts about thy shape
Of deities or mortals, or of both,
In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?
What men or gods are these? What maidens loath?
What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?
What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?

Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard
Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;
Not to the sensual ear, but, more endeared,
Pipe to the spirit dities of no tone.
Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave
Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare;
Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss,
Though winning near the goal---yet, do not grieve;
She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss
Forever wilt thou love, and she be fair!

Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed
Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu;
And, happy melodist, unwearied,
Forever piping songs forever new;
More happy love! more happy, happy love!
Forever warm and still to be enjoyed,
Forever panting, and forever young;
All breathing human passion far above,
That leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloyed,
A burning forehead, and a parching tongue.

Who are these coming to the sacrifice?
To what green altar, O mysterious priest,
Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies,
And all her silken flanks with garlands dressed?
What little town by river or sea shore,
Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel,
Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn?
And, little town, thy streets for evermore
Will silent be; and not a soul to tell
Why thou art desolate, can e'er return.

O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede
Of marble men and maidens overwrought,
With forest branches and the trodden weed;
Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought
As doth eternity. Cold Pastoral!
When old age shall this generation waste,
Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe
Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,
"Beauty is truth, truth beauty"---that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.

[Keats Ode on a Grecian Urn]

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