Greeks bearing grudges hit out

The cocktails and canapés were plentiful, the notes of the choir and orchestra were sweet but the Greeks finished their first high-profile occasion of the Athens Olympics on an astonishingly sour note.

Greek president Costis Stephanopoulos last night launched a high-profile attack on critics of Athens's problematic preparations for the Games at a special evening to welcome the International Olympic Committee.

IOC leaders and Olympic VIPs were taken to the magnificent Megaron Mousikis concert hall in the centre of Athens and served up Beethoven's ninth symphony, a buffet of smoked salmon and caviar and litres of expensive white wine and spirits.

But clearly the Greeks are still hurting from years of criticism from the IOC and the world's media about delays in the construction of venues.

The opening of the IOC session - the organisation's parliament - is usually an extremely diplomatic occasion packed with platitudes. But after routine speeches from IOC president Jacques Rogge and Athens chief organiser Gianna Angelopoulos, Stephanopoulos said: "Greece did her best to prove she deserved the honour and could stand up to the responsibility.

"That is why I 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."