An international team of advisers and NATO will be involved with the extensive (as well as expensive) security plans.
By JOANNE KORTH
Published March 28, 2004
[Getty Images]
Members of the Greek Special Navy forces train on the island of Fleves, near Athens. Organizers have a security budget of about $800-million, triple what Sydney spent for the 2000 Olympics. Olympic venues will be ready in time, Greeks say
In ancient times, a truce was called during the Olympics so athletes throughout Greece and from other countries could travel safely and compete without fear.
Times have changed.
The first Summer Games since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the Iraq war have a security budget of about $800-million, triple that of Sydney in 2000.
And with Greece struggling to complete its construction projects, the recent terrorist bombing of trains in Madrid has cast fresh doubt on the tiny nation's ability to safeguard thousands of athletes and more than 5-million ticketed spectators.
With a population of barely 11-million, Greece is the smallest nation to host an Olympics in 48 years. Clearly, it needs help. A seven-nation advisory group, including agents from the United States, Britain, Israel, Australia, France, Germany and Spain, has worked closely for months with Olympic planners.
One day after the Madrid bombings, Greece asked NATO for assistance, though the proposal had been in the works for weeks. The request includes soldiers trained to respond to chemical and biological attacks, as well as air and sea support.
"Does this mean there is zero risk?" IOC president Jacques Rogge said last month. "Of course not. No one can guarantee zero risk.
"What you can guarantee is that every measure that can be taken has been taken and provided for."
A recent two-week test of the Athens security measures, called "Shield of Hercules," revealed problems, but that is what such exercises are designed to do.
Top U.S. officials had positive things to say after a visit late last month.
"In the United States, we are really excited at participating in this great event," USOC president Bill Martin said. "We are not worried at all about the security of the Games. We have checked this matter to a great extent, and we know that we are going to be ready."
- Information from Times wires was used in this report.
