Massive Security at Sydney Olympics
Sept. 12, 2000 -- 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.
To clear a path for busloads of delegates, and separately Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, about 200 police in riot gear smashed their way through the blockades on Tuesday, sending 11 people to the hospital, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Busloads of American basketball players, in Melbourne, were reportedly blocked and then released by protesters, after one with a Mohawk confirmed for the crowd that the buses did contain athletes, according to other news reports. (See story below for other incidents preceding the games.)
Many groups have announced intentions to protest the Sydney games, police officials say.
IOC Director General Francois Carrard says authorities will be able to deal with the demonstrations, Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio reported today.
“We are totally confident that this is under control,” he said.
The NSW Police Service, which has personnel who are specifically trained in public order management, has said it would try to first consult or negotiate will protest leaders, with the hope of avoiding any forcible removal of disruptive demonstrations.
“But if they insist in this violent confrontation which we’ve seen in Melbourne over these last three days, we will act very, very firmly against them,” Police Commissioner Ryan said Wednesday.
Countering Hooliganism
Officials have prepared for, though do not expect, the post-soccer match hooliganism occasionally seen in Europe.
The price of travelling to Australia from Europe should prohibit the average hooligan from coming, said Olympic Security Command Center (OSCC) Commander Paul McKinnon in a recent interview published on the center’s Web site.
Nevertheless, Australian officials will be receiving assistance from European intelligence agencies so they can keep an eye on high-profile protagonists, said McKinnon.
Anti-Terrorism
And an Israeli defense official recently expressed concern his nation’s Olympic delegation could be a target for terrorists. Eleven Israeli athletes were massacred by Palestinian guerillas at the ’72 Munich Games.
Australian officials have said they were aware of no terrorist threats, but have said they are taking extensive precautions, including four years of rehearsing anti-terrorism plans.
Some 500 police officers will be stationed at the Olympic Village in Sydney during the Games, and the village was designed with security in mind, including installation of closed circuit TVs and protective fencing. Israeli athletes were reportedly seen accompanied by a special protective detail when they entered Sydney. Other athletes and high-profile visitors will receive special security as well.
Numerous bomb management teams will be at the ready, 24-hours a day.
Olympic teams had their belongings searched by police as they entered the village. Other visitors to the Sydney Olympic Park will pass through a security check and have their bags checked.
Officials have said a particular terrorism concern is from the lone, disgruntled individual looking to strike out, similar perhaps to the person who exploded a pipe bomb at the 1996 Atlanta Games, killing a woman and injuring 100 people.
Authorities have said special attention is being devoted to searching visitors to the Games to prevent such an incident.