Athens sets bar higher for future Games: Samaranch

Former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch said in Athens on August 26 that Athens Olympics turned out to be much better than expected and would set the bar higher for the future Games.

Samaranch said in an interview with Xinhua that he has been very much impressed by the excellent organization of the Athens Games as well as the contribution of the volunteers.

"Before the Games many people were afraid regarding the traffic, security, pollution and many other things, but nothing happened," he said.

"The Games are a great success, and they put the bar very high for Beijing 2008 Games," he added.

Greece is the smallest country to host the Games in the past over 50 years, and had managed a turnaround after its preparation for the Games was plagued by delay in venue construction.

But Samaranch said that what happened to Athens should not prevent small country from hosting the Games.

"Small countries have the right to organize the Games," he said. "What happened here was the problem with the preparation in the beginning. Host cities have seven years to prepare for the Games, but during the first two years, they did nothing.

"The IOC was very much preoccupied with the preparation work which was not going on normally," said Samaranch, who stepped down as IOC president in July 2001.

"We said that if Athens were not improving, the IOC would have to take a very important decision," he added.

The IOC finally stopped short of making the decision, and Samaranch paid tribute to the organizers' efforts in pulling off the turnaround.

"The Greek government reacted (to IOC's warning) and gave the presidency to Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki who led Athens' successful bid for the Olympics. Gianna and her team saved the Athens Games," he said.

While giving accolade to Athens, Samaranch also expressed his belief that Beijing could "do better than ever" in 2008.

Samaranch said he had attended the Asian Games and East Asian Games hosted by China and know the country's ability to host major events.

"You have the possibility of presenting fantastic Games," he said.

Besides, the growing strength of Chinese sports would help ensure a great success of the Games.

"We have been much surprised by how the Chinese sports are growing and growing."

China currently stands second to the United States on the medal table of the Games, winning 24 golds and 52 medals in total.

"You are here (Athens Games) number two, and maybe No. 1 in Beijing Games," he said.