According to the IOC Coordination Commission, the entities involved in organizing the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens need to work at a faster pace and better integrate their efforts to improve on the progress made to date.
A subgroup of the Coordination Commission met in Athens, 15 and 16 February, for an interim review of progress since its last full meeting in November.
"When we came back in November, we said Athens was back on track. It is still on track, but it needs to gain more speed," said Dr. Jacques Rogge, chairman of the Coordination Commission. "There is a continued need for more urgency and more integration."
Generally the Coordination Commission is satisfied with the efforts conducted by ATHOC, the Athens Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games. It is evident that ATHOC is already using the IOC knowledge transfer program to enhance its work. Among the promising results over the last few months are: the improvement of the sports programs, the agreement forming the Olympic Broadcasting Organization, the hiring of technical advisors from Sydney, the announcement of record-breaking marketing agreements, the headway in technology, the revision of the Olympic Games Master Plan, and the launch of the volunteers program.