The appraisal by Juan Antonio Samaranch was a distinct contrast to his warnings last year that planning delays had put the Athens Games in jeopardy.

Samaranch said Athens organizers "have made significant progress."

"I consider Athens' success certain," the state-run Athens News Agency quoted him as saying.

Samaranch was scheduled to address an annual ceremony for the Olympic Academy, which promotes Olympic history and ideals. He will end his 21-year tenure when his successor is elected next month in Moscow.

One of the five candidates -- Jacques Rogge, the IOC official overseeing 2004 preparations -- was also in Athens, accompanying Belgium's king.

Rogge led King Albert II on a tour of the marble stadium that hosted for first modern Olympiad in 1896. Rogge, however, insisted it was only an informal visit.

"Basically, I'm satisfied with the progress, but this is not a visit for the coordination," he said. "It's just a state visit on which I happened to be present."

King Albert, a former IOC member, was "very interested" in the stadium, Rogge said.

"It's a historic site," Rogge said. Organizers of the 2004 Olympics plan to use the stadium for part of the opening ceremony as well as for archery and the end of the marathon race.

Rogge refused to speak about his candidacy for IOC president. "This is a private visit within the visit of the king. This is not a visit for the organization," he said.