New York’s Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff says that the city’s 2012 Summer Olympic Games bid is partly an effort to speed development plans that should be carried out even if the city fails to win its bid. In an interview Doctoroff said, “what cities have recognized around the world is the catalytic effect the Olympics can have. There isn’t a better way to get things done than by hosting the Olympics”. He said plans to add office space, parks and sporting facilities in Manhattan and the other boroughs were desperately needed anyway. And the Number 7 subway line should also be expanded even if there aren’t any Olympic facilities.
Athens 2004 is just now putting the finishing touches on an insurance plan that covers 15,000 athletes, 20,000 officials, 1.5 million spectators and four million Athenians involved in the Summer Games. The most important contracts cover damages that organizers might cause to third parties. A large chunk of the insurance plan covers organizers’ assets such as installations and rented facilities. New York-based Marsh handled contingency planning, (risk factors). Marsh’s brief covers between 750 and 800 potential risk sources including fire detection in kitchens and the installation of reinforced doors.
China’s state media reports that China has announced a boost in the number of security officers working during the Beijing 2008 Summer Games. Beijing will employ 100,000 security guards to work during the Games. The state-owned Beijing Security Services will almost double its current work force. Chinese police and paramilitary officers will be out in force.
