Athens mayor promises ‘unprecedented’ Olympics security

By Martin Banks

Date: 19/02/04

THE mayor of Athens says "nothing will be left to chance" to ensure this summer's Olympics pass off peacefully.

The Athens Olympics, which begin on 13 August, will be the first summer games to be held since the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States and the subsequent war on terrorism.

Speaking in Brussels last Thursday, Dora Bakoyannis said that while she acknowledged concerns the games could be targeted by terrorist groups, she believes that "unprecedented" security measures will cope with any threat.

"There is no such thing as 100% security anywhere in the world, from New York to Moscow but I must point out that more than 50,000 members of the security forces will be directly involved in protecting the athletes, officials and visitors - three times as many as in Sydney for the last games," she said.

"The cost of the whole security operation is $850 million [667m euro], again three times the Sydney figure."

Bakoyannis, daughter of former Greek premier Constantine Mitsotakis, was speaking after attending a sports forum at the European Parliament organized by the Committee of the Regions, of which she is a member.

She entered politics in 1989 after her journalist husband Pavlos Bakoyannis was murdered by members of the Greek terrorist group November 17.

Their victims also include UK defence attaché Brigadier Stephen Saunders, shot dead in Athens in June 2000.

The mayor of Athens pledged, "as someone who has had first-hand experience of terrorism", to "take every possible measure to ensure the games pass off peacefully".

Addressing concerns that many venues in the five Greek cities hosting events would not be ready in time for the Olympics, she said: "I admit that we still have a few problems but I can assure you that Athens will be ready."