Scientific Applications International (SAIC), the U.S. company handling security for the Athens 2004 Games, has been asked by the Greek government to make last minute changes in procurement agreements, in an attempt to overcome worsening delays in security preparations for the Games reports the Financial Times.
OTE, the Greek public telecoms operator, would take over responsibility for installing a Tetra wireless communications network for the Greek police and security services and Motorola, the U.S. telecoms supplier, would provide equipment.
The Tetra network is due to be launched next April, so that 45,000 police and security personnel would have adequate time for training.
According to the Financial Times the network would cover about 600 Olympic sites in Attica, the region surrounding Athens, from sports venues and media centres to port facilities. The Greek police, backed up by an international team of intelligence and security advisers, would manage it.
An OTE official said, “the deadlines are uncomfortably near, but we can build on the existing network and start training as we go”.
Meanwhile, gas masks will be provided for passengers in the Athens subway during the Games, in case of an assassination attempt with chemical weapons, reports the Athens-based newspaper To Wima.
About 24,000 gas masks will be purchased and each metro railroad car will have 175 masks.
Also about 15 special devices will be purchased to detect chemical weapons as part of increased security measures.
Herman Frazier, a top U.S. Olympic Committee official who will lead the U.S. delegation at the 2004 Games is in Athens for a two-day inspection visit. He thinks that preparations for the Games are on track.
Athens organizers are briefing Olympic committees from around 196 countries.
Frazier said each country will hold private talks with organizers concerning security concerns raised by the U.S. delegation, which plans to bring its own contingent of guards and anti-terrorism experts to the Games.
