Athens still has a long way to go
By CNN's Don Riddell
LONDON, England -- It's almost standard practice for the president of the International Olympic Committee to close each games by praising them as the "best ever."
With less than five months to go until the Athens Olympics in Greece, Jacques Rogge must be thinking about drafting some creative scriptwriters.
The ancient city is nowhere near ready to host "the greatest show on earth."
As of last week, only 24 of the 38 venues had been completed, and there was much head scratching as to how everything would be finished ahead of the starting gun on August 13.
There's nothing new about concern over preparations ahead of the Games. Every host city at some point wonders if they've bitten off more than they can chew.
Staging the Olympics is a multi-billion dollar operation and the ultimate logistical challenge.
There was even concern ahead of the Sydney Games in 2000 -- genuinely considered to be the best ever -- that some areas wouldn't be ready. But Greece must be a particular cause for concern at the IOC.
Despite winning the contract in 1997, major construction didn't begin until 2000. Now we're seeing the effects of that. Deadlines on the tennis center and the velodrome have been pushed back.
The ambitious Olympic stadium is in serious doubt, and there are concerns that the foundations for the spectacular roof may not be strong enough.
And the contractor in charge of the symbolic marathon route -- which re-traces part of the route taken by the messenger Phiddipides in 490BC -- has been replaced.
Terrorist attack
Security must always be a top priority.
Even 32 years later, the terrorist attack on Munich in 1972 is still fresh in the mind. But no one could have forecast September 11 and its consequences.
The eyes of the world will be on Athens for 17 days in August, and that makes it a very tempting target for terrorists.
Now the Greek government is responsible for providing security -- with a record budget of $350 million. Of course, those plans are under review following the recent events in Madrid.
Rogge was in Athens recently, and saw for himself the work that needs to be done. He believes it is still possible that the city can be ready in time, but says that "positive steps" are needed.
He'll be encouraged that the incoming Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis will personally oversee the preparations for the games.
But for all concerned, it will be a tense few months -- for more reasons than one.
Don Riddell presents World Sport on CNN International at 0930 GMT, 1230 GMT, 1430 GMT, and 2130 GMT daily (also 0030 GMT at weekends and daily in Asia.) 
