International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge declared Wednesday in Athens that Athens is ready to stage a successful Olympic Games.

"I am sure that Athens is ready," the IOC chief told Greek state television.

"We know that the promises will be kept," said Rogge, who arrived here earlier on the day to attend his first summer Games ever since he took the IOC presidency in July 2001.

Rogge, who has warned organizers about major construction delays in the past, expressed his belief and confidence that the host country has overcome all of the problems and that the Games will be a huge success.

"It's a magic moment because this is the culmination of seven years of preparations, and in a little more than a week's time the games will begin and the whole world is waiting for that," he said.

"We are heading to very, very successful games," he added.

Rogge will meet with Greek officials to discuss the games and will preside over the IOC executive board meetings this weekend before moving into the Olympic Village.

Now, all venue construction is virtually finished, leaving only landscaping and other final details to be completed.

Greece has deployed 70,000 police and soldiers to guard the Olympics, plus an additional 35,000 military personnel to guard railroad stations, borders and other areas, mainly outside Athens.

Greece has spent a record 1.5 billion dollars to protect the Olympics.

Rogge said the security presence will not affect the games.