Bus mix-up leaves IOC chief stranded

International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch experienced Sydney's transport problems first hand on Saturday when a mix up over buses left him pounding the pavement outside his hotel.

Samaranch cancelled a visit to the Games' television centre after waiting 25 minutes with other senior IOC members for a bus that failed to show up, Australian Associated Press reported.

Sydney Games organisers had earlier drafted in an extra 700 bus drivers in an attempt to solve transport problems that have left athletes and officials stranded or delivered them to the wrong venue.

IOC sources said Samaranch was furious about the incident.

"We waited 25 minutes outside the hotel and were told that it could be another 10 - so the president called off the trip. We now know the transport problems first hand," one executive board said.

"The Games organisers had better get the transport sorted out or things could become chaotic," he added.

Olympic Roads and Transport Authority spokesman Paul Willoughby blamed human error for the no-show. The Games open next Friday.