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Rogge praises Athens security
24/02/2004 22:50 - (SA)
Athens - International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge praised Greek security preparations on Tuesday and said the Athens Games will be safeguarded in the best possible way.
"I would like to thank the Greek government for the unprecedented efforts that it has made in regards to security and safety. Everything that is humanly possible has been done," Rogge told representatives of the Association of National Olympic Committees. ANOC, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, is holding a series of meetings in Athens.
Greece has budgeted €650 million for Olympic security - a record amount that is three times what Australia spent for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The security budget skyrocketed after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States.
"It is not an easy task to organise the Olympic Games. Since September 11 the world has changed. We are now confronted with international terrorism," Rogge said.
To counter a possible terrorist threat, Greek officials are co-ordinating their security preparations with a seven-nation advisory group that includes the United States, Britain and Israel. The FBI considers the Olympics one of its top security concerns.
"For us the security of the greatest event in the world is the first priority and the first duty of our country," said Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, the Greek official responsible for Olympic preparations.
Greg Harney, head of international affairs for the US Olympic Committee, said American athletes will take security precautions when in Athens. They will be encouraged not to go out in the city alone and to blend into crowds.
He said that when competing "we are going to wear with pride our USA clothing," but athletes will keep a lower profile outside sports venues.
"As our kids go out into the community, into the city, they'll be recommended to blend in more. And we also have a lot of support from our government that will be here and give us a presence and some safety that we really need," Harney said.
In a concession to the rising cost of hosting the Olympics, Rogge said the IOC would keep trying to reduce their size so that more medium-sized countries, like Greece, can organise them in the future.
Greece, one of the smallest countries to host the Olympics, has faced serious problems organising the August 13-29 games and delays have for years plagued its preparations.
"I would like to reiterate here, in public, once more, the confidence that the IOC has in its Greek friends. We feel sure that they will offer us some very high calibre games," Rogge said.
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Rugby
