The International Olympic Committee told Greece yesterday it was off track for the Athens Summer Games in 2004 and should take "immediate" action to get back on schedule.

Denis Oswald, the IOC's chief inspector for the Athens Games, said the various bodies preparing for the Games needed to work better together.

"We feel that measures need to be taken immediately to get back on track," Oswald told a news conference at the end of a three-day inspection visit. We have a feeling each party involved should or could make some effort to improve co-operation."

Oswald said progress had been made _ especially in marketing and sponsorship _ but that construction of several venues and roads was again falling behind.

"The world expects from Greece a very special Games... but it can only work if the basic requirements for the infrastructure are met," he said. "The most important thing now is to manage time."

Last year, the IOC flashed Athens a yellow card and issued a veiled warning it would take the Games away if Greece did not roll up its sleeves and got to work.

After redoubled Greek efforts the IOC gave Athens the green light to carry on but progress has once again slowed.

"I wouldn't say we lost confidence but obviously there are delays and that's a fact," Oswald said.

The latest rebuke to Athens comes as no surprise. IOC president Jacques Rogge issued Greece a public warning on Wednesday, saying he needed to see deadlines respected to remain confident in the 2004 Games's success.

Oswald made clear Athens organisers (ATHOC) and ministries responsible for Olympic projects would be watched very closely.

He said an IOC team would return again in November to be given specific proposals on how lost time would be made up and international experts would then judge their feasibility.

He singled out delays in signing a contract for the construction of a table tennis and gymnastics indoor hall in Galatsi and the study for building a modern pentathlon hall in Goudi, which was five months behind schedule.

Oswald said that infrastructure was equally important as venues and road construction must also improve. "If you don't have the road... the best stadium obviously is not useful," he said.

He appeared pleased with how Greece had approached the issue of security, an area of special concern for the IOC after the September 11th suicide attacks in the United States.

"The Greek government has committed itself with a very high amount of money to cover security," he said.

Greece has pledged to make improvements to its existing $600 million security plan, which had originally been praised by the IOC. Officials said most changes would be made after the Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Oswald would not say what colour card he would give Athens now but added that despite the mixed results there was no question of moving the Games away from Greece.

"The Games will take place in Athens," he said.