Pressure mounts on Athens

The arches are not yet in place at the Olympic stadium

Pressure is growing on the under-fire organisers of the 2004 Olympics in Athens with just 100 days to go until the opening ceremony.

Despite organisers insisting they are on target, the Games have been blighted by a series of major delays.

Crucial transport links are some way off completion, while the dome over the main stadium has yet to be raised.

But Fani Palli-Petralia, the deputy culture minster, said: "We will stage extraordinary and successful Olympics."

The Government minister also revealed they were working "triple shifts" in a bid to be ready.

He said: "We are turning night time into day and I am convinced this project will be ready and will be magnificent."

Two huge steel arches have yet to be raised over the proposed Olympic stadium to carry an 18,000-tonne roof.

Roof delayed again

And the International Olympic committee has already warned the roof will be scrapped if the arches are not in place by 20 May.

A further headache for organisers concerns the new suburban rail and tram line, linking the city with the airport and the southern coastline.

The project is far from ready but the Greek government has promised to have it ready by the end of June.

On Tuesday, organisers also announced a 50% rise in the amount to be spent on security measures, with the expected bill set to reach £450m.

Greece will deploy half of the country's security forces for the Games, putting more than 45,000 armed guards on the streets of Athens - three times as many as in Sydney four years ago.

They have also requested help from Nato to assist with air and sea patrols.