Massive Security at Sydney Olympics

Sept. 12 -- Nearly 20,000 people — policemen, military personnel and private security and other specialists — are on hand at the Sydney Olympics to handle all matters of security concern, from soccer riots and shark attacks, to natural disasters and terrorism.

Police from New South Wales, the Australian state where the Olympics will take place, say the forces have prepared to deal with every possible contingency.

Some 4,900 police will be working the Olympic Games, which officially open Friday, as well as more than 2,500 volunteer security guards and a 4,500-strong contract security force. The Australian government is also contributing $53 million to the Olympic security effort, which includes providing border control, customs, intelligence and federal police support.

A large flotilla of police boats is massing on Sydney Harbor to keep the open water sports safe and secure from harbor traffic. And special divers carrying electric prods have been assigned to keep any sharks away from triathaletes, the BBC reports.

No major security threats have been identified, officials have said.

But they are expecting possible disruptions from Aborigine protestors, unhappy with Australian rule, and the rowdy protestors who this week caused havoc at the meeting of the World Economic Forum in nearby Melbourne.

Protests Expected

The New South Wales police, who are heading the massive security operation, have offered to issue licenses for demonstrations for specific times and places. NSW Police Commissioner Peter Ryan has vowed to stop those without a permit who wish “to disrupt the games.”

Officials also say that protestors in Melbourne are expected to travel to Sydney in time for the Games. Thousands of protestors today were blockading the World Economic Forum, a meeting of world business, financial, NGO and sometimes government leaders there to discuss the impact of economic globalization on the Asia Pacific region. The protestors reportedly included students, unionists, environmentalists, and socialist and anarchist groups.