Rogge dismisses rowing concerns

The Junior World Championships were beset by weather problems

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge is not worried about the venue for the rowing events at Athens 2004 - despite concerns raised by Britain's James Cracknell.

The venue was used for the recent Junior World Championships but the first day of competition was cancelled due to high winds and four boats later sank during the event, which had to be rescheduled to start early in the morning.

And in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Cracknell accused organisers of practicing the "ostrich technique of burying their heads in the sand".

"It is the crews who can cope with changes and uncertainty that will perform the best in Athens," said Cracknell, who will compete in the coxless pairs with Matthew Pinsent.

"The fishermen in this area of Greece take August off as it is too windy to fish, so it looks as if we are in for a rough ride next year."

But Rogge inisisted that the weather was not a new concern for Olympic rowing events.

"It would not the first time we had to reschedule the rowing for very early in the morning - it was the same at Los Angeles in 1984 where all races had to be at 7am," he said.

Rowing is weather sensitive - you have to cope with it Olympic chief Jaques Rogge Pinsent voices Games concern

"Last year, the final of Wimbledon was played on Monday but that doesn't mean London isn't suitable for sport. Rowing is weather sensitive - you have to cope with it."

Organiser of the 2004 Olympics have been plagued by a number of setbacks and the IOC were forced to step in to ensure that construction work remained on schedule.

However, Rogge believes that Athens will be ready for the Games, which open in a year's time on 13 August.

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating and we will know by August 13 2004 at 8pm when the opening ceremony starts," he said.

"But I remain confident. There were delays in the beginning but they have been addressed and the Greeks are working very fast now.

"We sent expert teams to investigate everything and the construction experts are adamant that everything can be finished in good time providing the Greeks work at the same pace as they are now."