Olympic Construction Goes to Wire

Construction at the main Olympic sports complex will be finished just before the opening ceremony for the Athens Games.

The stadium has been beset by major delays, but Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava says not to worry.

“Everything will be completed the day before the start of the Games,” Calatrava told the Athens daily Eleftheros Typos on Monday.

Calatrava’s comments seem to contradict promises by Greek officials to finish the complex in mid-July for the Aug. 13-29 Games.

A steel-and-glass roof for the main stadium was so delayed that the International Olympic Committee had considered asking Athens organizers to cancel it. Most of the work on the roof was completed on June 4.

Other Calatrava designs include a roof for the cycling track, a walkway and the general area in and around the complex. Calatrava placed the total cost of the project at $341 million.