They had a deadline of May 20th. By wonderful coincidence they chose instead the day the International Olympic Committee began its final assessment of whether the city will be ready for the games in three months' time. Katie Razzall reports.
A building site to the untrained eye - to the Greeks, a symbol of their readiness to host the Olympics.
For this morning, one of the 7000-tonne arches that will hold the stadium's roof in place moved ever so slightly - imperceptibly in fact - but enough, it's hoped, to convince the International Olympic Committee that the games are on track.
The IOC members were nowhere to be seen. Keen to avoid being sucked into a PR coup perhaps, hidden from the cameras too. The celebratory wine was handed out to the builders. You can imagine the sighs of relief, though.
The desire of the Coordination Commission too - on its final visit before the games. Today they toured venues - the crucial question, will the sites be ready?
Tomorrow meetings with the authorities and the organising committee examining security - the IOC's stated priority. On Wednesday the commission will announce just how prepared it believes Athens is.
On this issue - there's as much movement as at the stadium - the IOC has already said it will not postpone or take the games elsewhere. Overtime, scaling down of projects and a mad scramble for the finish line the only real option.
The swimming pool will certainly be without a roof. Tram and transport links also looking doubtful.
And last week's bombings, blamed by the Greek government on the political, reminded everyone of security concerns.
The £800 million the Greeks are spending to protect athletes and spectators, the 45,000 armed guards, the massive planned police presence in the city still may not be enough to convince some - particularly the Americans - that the 2004 olympics are worth attending.
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