Greek president Costis Stephanopoulos on Monday said he was bitter at what he thought were unjustified attacks on the organisers of the 2004 Athens Olympics. "Greece did her best to prove she deserved the honour and that she could stand up to the responsibility," Stephanopoulos told the opening of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in the Greek capital. "That is why I personally felt bitter when, beyond the balanced and justified recommendations voiced by your committee and by sincere friends of the Olympic idea, I came across a number of malevolent or ironical comments by others who were anticipating an organisational failure and rejoicing in advance." Stephanopoulos said final conclusions could only be drawn at the end of the games on August 29. "What I cannot admit ... is the assertion that in awarding the Games to Greece you supposedly committed and error," he told the 120 plus members of the IOC. "Greece does not claim any reward in return for her past contribution to the Olympic idea, nor shall we request your indulgence in the aftermath of the Games. "Yet, we want to convince everyone that our country undertook the organisation of the Games with all the affection and the commitment that the games deserve and fully conscious of the serious character of the exercise. The preparations for the Games were plagued by delays and political infighting, but after a late scramble the infrastructure and facilities now look ready for Friday's opening. Stephanopoulos said that Greece had "embarked on an effort to underscore the spiritual dimension of the Games".
