Euro 2000's tournament director today insisted that preparations for the soccer championships jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands are on track.

Alain Courtois' comments followed reports that UEFA, European soccer's governing body, was considering moving the championships to another host country because of fears that building work at three Belgian stadiums was behind schedule.

Grounds in Charleroi, Bruges and Liege need extensive renovation work to improve capacity and security for the championships due to kick off in June 2000 and there are fears that they may not all be ready. But Courtois was adamant the modernisation would all be completed on time.

"I read that the Netherlands may become a victim of the slow work at Belgian stadiums," he said. "That is not true. That is totally untrue. Work on the stadiums in Belgium is on schedule."

The 2000 tournament marks the first time a European Championship has been co-hosted by two nations.