New Greek government commits to Olympics

Malcom Brabant: New Democracy's celebrations are over already under instruction from the new Prime Minister. Kostas Karamanlis is promising to get down to work immediately. He says his administration will be diligent, humble, yet daring and efficient. The party's priorities are to create more jobs, tackle unemployment and to reform agriculture. Greece's new leader has made a commitment that this summer's Olympic games will be the best and safest ever and in that respect he's singing from the same hymn sheet as the outgoing Socialist government. Preparations for the games have been shambolic and there are several major projects which are way behind schedule such as the construction of the roof of the main stadium and the development of the marathon route. Privately members of the International Olympic Committee are afraid that Greece's promises will not be fulfilled. The construction programme is past the point of no return and Olympic officials seem to have no alternative but to trust that the Greek habit of meeting deadlines at the last gasp will come good in the end. VOCABULARY to get down to work immediately - ihned se vrhnout do prácediligent - pilný humble - skromný daring - odvážný, smělý efficient - výkonný to tackle unemployment - vypořádat se s nezaměstnaností he's singing from the same hymn sheet - zpívá stejnou písničku shambolic - chaotický at the last gasp - na poslední chvíli will come good in the end - vše nakonec dobře dopadne