Rogge Hails Security Plan

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, described security preparations for the Summer Games as “unprecedented” Tuesday, adding remarks intended to offer assurance that the Athens Games will be safe.

“Everything that is humanly possible has been done,” he said.

“It is not an easy task to organize an Olympic Games,” Rogge added in a speech opening a meeting of the Assn. of National Olympic Committees, with officials from its more than 200 member nations meeting here in a major pre-Games review. “Since 11 September, [2001], the world has changed. We are now confronted with international terrorism.”

Greece has budgeted 650 million euros, $825 million at current exchange rates, for Olympic security. The figure tops $1 billion when factoring in salary costs, authorities said.

The Greek security budget for the Games is at least three times the Australian budget for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

Officials from several other countries, including the U.S., Britain and Israel, have been advising Greek security officials.

A recent training exercise involved a mock chemical attack at a train station.

“For us, the security of the greatest event of the world is the first priority and the first duty of our country,” said Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, who is the official overseeing Olympic preparations.

-- Alan Abrahamson