Thousands of bright banners and reams of multi-colored canvas will help transform Athens before the August 13-29 Olympic Games, organizers said Thursday.

Building, bridges and 370km of highways will be dressed in the same colors as the uniforms of Olympic volunteers.

"The whole of Greece in a few days will be the focus of the attention of the world," Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, President of the Athens Olympics Organizing Committee (ATHOC), told a press conference.

"Like all Olympic cities, Athens wants to look its best," she added.

Visitors to the Olympics will be greeted by a series of initiatives promoting the event: Multi-storey canvases bearing logos of the Olympics and sponsors.

Thousands of meters of printed canvas along with 20,000 banners and 21km of multi-colored fencing in the city's less scenic areas.

In eight rundown areas, entire buildings will be dressed in giant photographs of ancient Olympia or the country's trademark olive groves.

Bare cement facades will be transformed from eyesores into giant projector screens showing scenes from old and new movies shot in Greece.

Five themed main routes showcasing the work of contemporary artists, featuring interactive installations and sound and light shows.

A dozen giant balloons will dominate the skyline marking out key walking routes for visitors.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2004)