SAFETY IN SPORT

An estimated $800 million has been invested in security-related measures for the Games to date, the largest in Olympic history

Greece has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe, and the successful dismantling of the country’s November 17 terrorist group in 2002 received international accolades from governments worldwide while further increasing the nation’s status as a safe and secure country. The worst a visitor to Greece is likely to experience these days is being relieved of his wallet while standing inattentive and thunderstruck before one of the country’s countless archeological treasures, and it is on this solid base that Greek officials are planning security for the upcoming 2004 Olympics in Athens.

This does not mean that security for the event is being taken lightly. In fact, the opposite is true. An estimated $800 million has been invested in security-related measures for the Games to date–the largest in Olympic history–nearly three and a half times that spent in Sydney in 2000. This is the first Olympic event to be held after September 11 and the resulting global focus on the fight against terrorism, and all possible precautions have been taken to ensure a safe and incident-free Games.

Minister of Public Order, Mr. Georgios Floridis, comments, “The cost of the security plan has been higher than any security plan in previous Olympic games, and it has been created and implemented through cooperation with the international community.”

GEORGIOS FLORIDIS Minister of Public Order

The comprehensive security plan is a result of Greek cooperation with security intelligence, planning, and training experts from a seven-nation group, including the U.S., Israel, and Britain. Some 45,000 security personnel will work at the Olympic Games: 25,000 from the police, 7,000 from the military, 3,000 coast guards, 1,500 fire-fighters, 3,500 private security contractors and 5,000 trained volunteers. This is approximately four times the number used at any other Olympic event, and training for security personnel was aided by the assistance of a U.S. task force from the CIA, the State Department, the FBI, and the Pentagon.

“There is a very important role played within the security plan by specialized staff of the United States in cooperation with the Greek forces and the Ministry of Public Order,” states Mr. Floridis. “To date approximately 2,000 people from the Greek police have been trained in the United States in order to face terrorism or any other preventive attack that might arise.”

He continues, “Greece is a secure, extrememly beautiful country. This year provides visitors with the opportunity to participate in an event that is unique and relates the Olympic Games to their heritage and a very glorious past. This will be a safe event. We have invested a great deal of money and effort in security measures.”