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New Greek government slams Olympic hold up

Before crucial talks with Interna-tional Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, an official from Greece's new government yesterday blasted delays on the marathon route as "unacceptable" as others scrambled to assess Athens' struggling preparations.

"As a simple citizen and a professional, I consider it unacceptable for us to be five months before the games and for the road of the marathon race to be in this condition and for us to have so many problems," said Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias, a civil engineer, after touring the marathon route.

Souflias' ministry is in charge of building many Olympic venues and road projects necessary for the Aug. 13-29 games. The widening of the marathon course has been stalled because of problems with a contractor.

But Souflias added a note of optimism and predicted "this project will happen as it should."

The marathon will be one of the signature events of the Athens Games. The route follows the ancient course that gives the race its name and will finish in the marble stadium that hosted the first modern Olympiad in 1896.
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