For all her undoubted drive and ability, Gianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki confesses that when she took charge of preparations for the Olympics six years ago, she did not realize the sheer magnitude of the ordeal awaiting her. She had to tussle with contractors who too often fell short of their commitments, juggle power struggles within the Athens 2004 committee, while at the same time keeping at arm's length the International Olympics Committee's thinly veiled impatience. Her job has been more difficult and demanding than that of any politician. Indeed, a great many people are prepared to argue that only a woman with her diplomatic talents could have pulled it off.
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