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Security concerns complicating preparations for Olympics
Athens, May 04: Athens fought hard to host the most important athletic event in the world, losing its first bid to host the games at the centennial of its modern birth in 1996.
Athens, May 04: Athens fought hard to host the most important athletic event in the world, losing its first bid to host the games at the centennial of its modern birth in 1996.
Since winning the bid for 2004 organizers were slow to begin preparations, losing years of crucial time and causing the changeover of officials in charge of the project, resulting in the mad dash to make the August 13 date.
Issues of preparation and security have burdened organizers and overshadowed the symbolism of the event which Angelopoulos said the world should focus on.
The president said what needed to be stressed was the importance of such a global multicultural event coming back to its roots at a time of strife and division in the world.
With global insecurity due to terrorist threats and the war in Iraq, the Athens chief said the games came at a time when the public needed a strong message of unity and the Games should be used as a symbol for forgetting diferences.
During the ancient Olympic Games, a peace truce was called where warring groups around the country laid down their arms for the duration of the event, a highly symbolic act that organizers have been keen to promote.
The volatile global situation has caused concerns about the safety of the games with American athletes expressing their concerns and Athens' security planning coming under close scrutiny.
Angelopoulos said the security plan was thorough with all the elements needed to dispel any concerns over safety.
Organizers and the government have thrown all their weight into providing the most comprehensive security plan possible with new technology, tens of thousands of security personnel, and continuous training.
In May, more security training exercises are planned to deal with terrorist threat scenarios, the eighth in a series of drills with international advisors from seven countries over the past year.
It is the biggest Olympic security plan in history and an unprecendented task for the country of 10 million people.
Bureau Report
With global insecurity due to terrorist threats and the war in Iraq, the Athens chief said the games came at a time when the public needed a strong message of unity and the Games should be used as a symbol for forgetting diferences.
During the ancient Olympic Games, a peace truce was called where warring groups around the country laid down their arms for the duration of the event, a highly symbolic act that organizers have been keen to promote.
The volatile global situation has caused concerns about the safety of the games with American athletes expressing their concerns and Athens' security planning coming under close scrutiny.
Angelopoulos said the security plan was thorough with all the elements needed to dispel any concerns over safety.
Organizers and the government have thrown all their weight into providing the most comprehensive security plan possible with new technology, tens of thousands of security personnel, and continuous training.
In May, more security training exercises are planned to deal with terrorist threat scenarios, the eighth in a series of drills with international advisors from seven countries over the past year.
It is the biggest Olympic security plan in history and an unprecendented task for the country of 10 million people.
Bureau Report