Olympic security shake-up

2004-08-17 14:31

Athens - Olympics Games organisers ordered beefed-up security at all venues on Tuesday after an embarrassing breach involving a Canadian man who leapt into the pool during a synchronised diving event.

The order to step up security was launched after the 31-year-old, dressed in a tutu and clown shoes, mounted one of the boards and plunged into the water during the competition on Monday evening.

He stayed in the pool for several minutes before officials at the Aquatic Centre realised he was not supposed to be there and pulled him out.

Marton Simitsek, CEO of the Athens organising committee, told a press conference that the man "wanted to present a message to his wife by getting on television."

"He took off his shirt and he had a message on his chest," Simitsek said.

In fact the message carefully printed on the man's bare chest was the name of an online gambling website, which has launched similar stunts at a host of major sporting events.

Men and women representing the company have run on the field of play, sometimes half-dressed and sometimes nude, bearing the slogan at the 2002 European Cup football final in Glasgow, this year's Superbowl and the 2003 US Open Golf among other events.

The man was taken away by security staff and handed over to the police.

He will remain in custody to face trial in Athens on Wednesday for violating public order rules, a court official said.

Simitsek said that because of the prank, police would now be placed around all competition areas in every venue to prevent another 'invasion'.

But to play down the police presence the officers will be dressed in the bright multi-coloured shirts worn by volunteers.

"We want to keep the appearance of security low-key. Security people are there but we don't want venues to be packed with people in uniforms," said Simitsek.

As for the arrested husband, "this gentleman will go through the normal legal channels like everbody else, Greek or foreign," said Simitsek.

When told that the man had in fact been advertising, Games organisers said they had merely repeated what the man had told Greek police.

Athens is spending €1.2bn on guarding the Games, making it the biggest security bill in Olympic history.

- AFP