Athens 2004 is in the midst of a two-day security exercise where nearly 1,800 anti-terrorism experts, riot police, firefighters and other personnel are preparing for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games.
The exercise taking place Friday and Saturday is named Rainbow 2002 and began with a mock airplane hijacking at Athens’ international airport. According to plans the “terrorists” were arrested and the passengers were freed.
Teams will also simulate a bomb attack on the airport.
On Saturday security teams are expected to participate in a mock bomb attack on a cruise ship at Athens’ main port of Piraeus. Athens 2004 organizers plan to use 11 cruise ships as floating hotels during the Olympics.
Peter Ryan, security adviser for the Athens 2004 organizers who was also security chief for the Sydney 2000 Games, said authorities were preparing for attacks including smallpox, botulism, food poisoning and the deadly nerve agent VX.
Athens is receiving advice from Britain, Australia, France, Germany, Israel, Spain and the United States on counter-terrorism.
