Two years before the opening ceremony of the 2004 Olympics, on August 13, 2004, the sailing regatta that begins today in Athens signals the transition of the Games’ organization from the planning to the operational phase.

The regatta, which starts today at noon and will last until next Thursday, is the first Olympic test event. Test events must take place in all sports at least a year before the Games; organizers and contractors are racing against the clock to complete venues.

“It is an opportunity for Athens 2004 staff to obtain a hands-on experience to work as a team, to learn in practice, to implement and test our organizational and operational plans,” Marton Simitsek, executive director of the organizing committee, Athens 2004, told Reuters.

Even though facilities at the sailing center in Aghios Cosmas are temporary, athletes said they were “enthusiastic” about their quality, Athens 2004 announced yesterday. “All facilities and services are of a very high level,” Argentinean Carlos Espinola, a silver medalist in the Mistral (windsurfing) class at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was quoted as saying.

A total of 507 athletes, from 40 countries, will take part in the regatta, in 327 boats. All Olympic classes are represented, except the Star Class; there were very few entries for this class, because the World Championships are taking place simultaneously in Los Angeles.

On Wednesday, an International Olympic Committee spokeswoman endorsed Athens’s efforts. “Momentum is very much gathering pace,” the IOC’s Giselle Davis told Reuters. (Combined reports)