Olympic Security Plans Re-evaluated

Oct 1, 2001 12:00 PM

The head of the 2002 Olympics said security plans will be re-evaluated in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

“I look for the federal government to revisit the public safety plans,” said Mitt Romney in an article by The Associated Press. “We will be fully engaged in that process and will make it our highest priority.”

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, said security would be discussed by the IOC executive board when it meets in Switzerland. He did not specify what areas of security would be examined.

Because the Olympics, scheduled for Salt Lake City, command so much attention and draw so many spectators — from ordinary fans to heads of state — the threat of disaster has long hung over them. Israeli athletes were massacred by terrorists during the 1972 Munich games. More recently, a bomb exploded in Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 summer games in Atlanta.

The Games are classified as a national security event by the Federal government. A Presidential Directive designates the Secret Service as the leader in a security effort that involves governmental agencies ranging from the FBI, CIA, INS, and Department of Defense, to local and state police forces.

Salt Lake City plans a high-tech security approach. Cameras, metal detectors and sophisticated software are slated to monitor everyone who enters an Olympic event.

Olympic officials have been relying on Boca Raton, Fla.-based Sensormatic Electronics Corp. and Garland, Texas-based Garrett Metal Detectors to provide high-tech components for securing the Games.

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