Athens News Agency: News in English, 02-12-23

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] IOC president predicts ''excellent'' Games in Athens

[02] Greek mountaineer to place Athens 2004 flag at South Pole

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

[04] Weather Forecast: Cloud & rain expected on Tuesday

[05] Greek stocks plunge 1.33 percent on Monday

[01] IOC president predicts ''excellent'' Games in Athens

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge on Monday predicted the organizing of ''excellent'' Games in Athens in 2004, on condition that the preparations will continue with the current pace, according to a CNA dispatch from Brussels.

In an interview with the Belgian RTBF channel for the ''Week End Sportif'', Rogge said that initial delays in preparations have been covered due to increased effectiveness.

''If our friends the Greeks continue with the same pace, we will have excellent Olympic Games,'' he said, adding that in the event this does not happen the Games will still take place but they will not be as good.

He stressed, however, that he does not foresee the second scenario as a real possibility.

''There is no alternative scenario for the Olympic Games. They will take place in Athens and they will begin on Aug. 13,'' he concluded.

[02] Greek mountaineer to place Athens 2004 flag at South Pole

Greek mountaineer Nikos Mangitsis departs from Athens in the coming days with the Land of Fire as his destination and from there to the Antarctic and the conquest of the South Pole where he will place the flag of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

The 33-year-old mountaineer from Volos, central Greece, five months ago (August 1) had placed the Athens 2004 flag at the highest peak in Europe,at Elbrus (altitude 5,642 metres) in the Caucasus.

This time, he will allempt a triple mission: the conquest of the South Pole, and climbing to the highest peak of the Antarctic (Vinson 5,129 metres) and the highest peak of the Andies (Aconcagua 6,960 metres), which is the highest peak on the American continent.

The mission, which will last about 60 days (it is expected to be completed in mid February), is held under the auspices of the Athens 2004 Organising Committee (ATHOC).

[03] Foreign Exchange Rates - Tuesday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.028

Pound sterling 0.644

Danish kroner 7.426

Swedish kroner 9.138

Japanese yen 123.3

Swiss franc 1.458

Norwegian kroner 7.289

Cyprus pound 0.572

Canadian dollar 1.596

Australian dollar 1.829

[04] Weather Forecast: Cloud & rain expected on Tuesday

Cloud and rain is forecast for most parts of the country. Winds westerly northwesterly, light to strong, turning gale force in the southern Aegean. In the north and center, temperatures will range from -02C to 10C; in the west from 01C to 15C; and in the rest of the country from 05C to 17C. Cloudy in Athens with temperatures between 04C and 14C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 0C to 09C.

[05] Greek stocks plunge 1.33 percent on Monday

Greek stocks plunged to new multi-year lows in the Athens Stock Exchange on Monday.

The general index ended 1.33 percent lower at 1,767.88 points, with turnover a low 74.3 million euros.

All sector indices suffered losses, led by the IT Solution (-6.06 percent), Textile (-4.91 percent), Publication (-3.73 percent), Insurance (-3.26 percent) and Holding (-2.79 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 1.05 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 1.84 percent lower and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index plunged 2.15 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 269 to 54 with another 27 issues unchanged.

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