Organizers Believe They’ll Get More Security Funding

Salt Lake Organizing Committee President Mitt Romney said Wednesday he is optimistic the federal government will provide the necessary funds to reinforce security measures at the Winter Olympics in February, characterizing his meetings with high-level government officials in Washington as “better than I could ever have dreamed.”

The government had budgeted about $270 million for Olympic security. However, in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the Secret Service recommended a series of supplemental counter-terrorism measures that would add 15% to 20% to the original sum.

Those extra funds would pay additional security personnel, ensure the security of the air space above the area and purchase metal detectors and other equipment. The final price tag has not been determined.

Romney said he was reassured by the tone of Wednesday’s meeting, which included a delegation of Utah elected officials, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft and the heads of the FBI and Secret Service.

“What was most encouraging about our meeting and our talks prior to this was the complete unanimity for providing the necessary elements for the security planning for the Games,” Romney said before boarding a plane at Dulles Airport for his return to Salt Lake City. “Speaker Hastert said he attended the Games in 1972 [in Munich] and he understands the Olympic spirit. Everyone expressed a commitment to providing everything necessary to make the Games safe.”

Specific measures probably won’t be disclosed, in the interest of not tipping off potential terrorists. But Romney said an “extraordinary” air-threat security program will be implemented to protect the region from air attacks.

On the ground, fences will be built to protect previously open areas and metal detectors and surveillance equipment will be installed at venues.

Spectators won’t be allowed to take backpacks into venues--a practice recently adopted for professional and college sports events at many arenas and stadiums--and athletes who might be targeted for attacks because of their nationality or religion might receive special protection.

Romney said these measures can be taken without creating an oppressive atmosphere that would spoil what is supposed to be a joyous gathering.

“We’ll have far less of a military presence than Atlanta or Nagano or Lillehammer,” he said. “We will have plain-clothes federal agents and state officers whose presence will not be obvious. It will not necessarily look like a high level of security, but it will be.”

He also said Salt Lake City organizers have received merely 14 requests for ticket refunds out of 45,000 ticket accounts, and they have not been informed of countries or individual athletes withdrawing from the Games.

“We’ve gotten faxes and e-mails from national Olympic committees and sports federations around the world,” he said, “and they concur in saying they expect us to do whatever is necessary as far as security. Based on the conversations I’ve had, I’ve predicted every single athlete who has made an Olympic team will be there. And we are fully expecting to have a full house at every event.”