Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-02-25

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Foreign Exchange Rates: Wednesday

[02] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud on Wednesday

[03] IOC expresses absolute confidence in organisation of 2004 Games

[01] Foreign Exchange Rates: Wednesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.269

Pound sterling 0.676

Danish kroner 7.510

Swedish kroner 9.271

Japanese yen 137.5

Swiss franc 1.587

Norwegian kroner 8.847

Cyprus pound 0.590

Canadian dollar 1.695

Australian dollar 1.638

[02] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud on Wednesday

Scattered cloud is forecast in all parts of the country with showers in the west, north and eastern Aegean islands. Isolated storms are expected in the northern Ionian, Epirus and the western central mainland. Winds southerly, moderate to strong, turning very strong at sea. Temperatures in Athens 9C to 19C and in Thessaloniki from 5C to 11C.

[03] IOC expresses absolute confidence in organisation of 2004 Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday expressed its absolute confidence in Greece's efforts to organise the 2004 Olympic Games, with the IOC's influential president saying that everything humanly possible is being done to ensure a safe and secure Olympics.

Addressing the 14th General Assembly of National Olympic Committees (NOCs), which opened in Athens the same day, IOC President Jacques Rogge noted that even today there are certain parties that question Greece's ability to organise the Olympic Games, before adding: ''I want to say, from this podium, in the most categorical way, that the IOC surrounds the Greek effort with absolute confidence''.

With respect to security, the IOC chief reiterated that everything humanly possible would be done to hold a secure Olympic Games.

Addressing the Assembly, Greece's culture minister Evangelos Venizelos reiterated a commitment that all Olympic projects, including the ''Calatrava roof'' over the main Olympic stadium (OAKA), would be completed in time for the Games in August.

''Let me state in a categorical way that most of the projects are at the 90-percent completion mark, and all of the projects will be delivered over the next two months,'' Venizelos said.

Venizelos later briefed Rogge over the preparations during a meeting, with the latter saying he was satisfied that Olympic preparations have not been affected by the ongoing campaign season in Greece. General elections are planned in the country on Sunday, March 7.

The Assembly was inaugurated at a central Athens hotel by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, who called on the more than 500 NOC delegates and 40 IOC members atending to ''adhere to the Olympic ideals and hold on to them with regard to the Athens Games.''

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article