ATHENS, Greece -- The architect who designed the glass-and-steel roof for the main Olympic stadium is certain it will be ready on time.
The roof, being assembled in two parts next to the stadium, will be rolled slowly into place over the 75,000-seat facility. Its two arches hold synthetic glass panels.
The stadium roof has been mired in delays and there were fears it would not be completed for the Aug. 13-29 Olympics.
"I continue to work on the project I have taken over, sure that we will deliver it to Greece for the games," Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava was quoted Tuesday in the Athens daily Ethnos. "I am absolutely sure we will deliver something unique that has not been done before technically."
Calatrava blamed many of the delays on bad weather. Construction crews often could not work because of strong wind.
"You can control lots of things but not the weather," Calatrava said.
The International Olympic Committee had told organizers they should consider canceling the project if they could not guarantee it would be done on time.
In May, the west arch of the steel-and-glass canopy was pulled into place after sliding on giant roller skates over 230 feet. The east arch was supposed to be put in place by the end of May. Workers are expected to start moving it this week.
Pro Basketball
Frank Vogel will join the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant coach, head coach Jim O'Brien announced.
Julius Erving is no longer a candidate to be general manager of the Toronto Raptors, who are looking for a replacement since firing Glen Grunwald on April 1.
The Utah Jazz will open the preseason in Russia, facing the former team of All-Star forward Andrei Kirilenko.
Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace expects to play for the U.S. men's basketball team at the Olympics in Athens. Off the field
An attempt by the University of Arkansas' athletic department fund-raising arm to reclaim money it has paid to Nolan Richardson was dismissed. A federal judge ruled the fired coach has made adequate attempts to find work under terms of his contract.
Former champion boxer Magne Havnaa of Norway drowned in a boating accident near his home, police said. The 40-year-old fighter won the WBO cruiserweight championship with a fifth-round knockout of Richard Pultz of the United States in 1990. Havnaa retired in 1993 with a 19-3 record. COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Shannon Bodamer will play at Division II Quincy University in Illinois next season. Bodamer, a Mt. Lebanon graduate, decided to transfer from Division I St. Bonaventure after two seasons. Quincy won the Great Lakes Valley Conference and advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Divsion II tournament.Bodamer, a 5-foot-5 guard, is expected to make an immediate impact at Quincy.
Mark Fox was hired as Nevada's basketball coach after working four years as an assistant under Trent Johnson. College Football
Pitt senior offensive tackle Rob Petitti was named a third-team All-American by Athlon's Magazine. A native of Rumson, N.J., the 6-foot-6, 335-pound Petitti is a three-year starter with a streak of 38 consecutive starts. He was first-team All-Big East in 2003 and is being considered for the Outland and Lombardi Awards.
Notre Dame changed its schedule and will now open the season at BYU on Sept. 4, giving the Fighting Irish a game before they play Michigan. Golf
David Duval had a hotel room reserved near Muirfield Village, but the 5 p.m. deadline passed last Friday without him signing up to play in the Memorial. The former British Open champion has not played on the PGA Tour since he missed the cut in the Las Vegas Invitational in October. He tried to play the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan in late November, but withdrew with a back injury.
The exemption into the U.S. Women's Open allows Michelle Wie to attempt qualifying for the men's U.S. Amateur Public Links in two weeks, part of a master plan to try to get into the Masters.
A struggling Colin Montgomerie will not attempt to qualify for this month's U.S. Open, saying he will only accept a special inviation. If he misses the Open, his string of playing in 49 consecutive majors will end.
