Main Olympic stadium to be ready before opening ceremony
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-06-29 09:21

Construction work at the main Olympic sports complex in Athens is set to be finished only a day before the opening ceremony on August 13, said its architect Santiago Calatrava.

The Spaniard insisted that work at the complex was on schedule despite delays. The most difficult part of the project, a steel-and-glass roof for the main stadium, was completed on June 4.

"Everything will be completed the day before the start of the games," Calatrava told Greek newspaper Eleftheros Typos.

But Greek officials had promised to deliver the US$489 million stadium complex to organizers in mid-July.

As well as the main stadium, other Calatrava designs include a roof for the cycling track, a walkway and the general area in and around the complex.

"The works are expensive, but they are worth it and they will remain," Caltrava said.