International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge told the Los Angeles Times that security issues top the agenda when he considers which city should be selected as host city for the Games.
In an interview with The Times Rogge said the “best possible security” is his No. 1 consideration.
Rogge won’t be casting a vote on Wednesday and has declined to name a favourite in the race for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
But when asked to describe in a broad sense what he hoped the election would accomplish, he said, “I would want the IOC members to elect a city that has absolutely the best file and then, of course, everyone has his own angle on that. I can give mine. Mine are definitely – first of all, security, the best possible security.
“The biggest threat (to) the Games is not the quality of the Games, although we strive for perfect quality. The biggest threat to the Games is security, and that’s since Munich ’72 of course”. That’s when 11 Israeli athletes and officials were kidnapped and murdered by Palestinian terrorists.
Rogge said that next he would look at the most classical file criteria, “such as the general infrastructure of the country, political stability, financial stability, venue construction and ultimately the quality of the people” (government officials as well as executives with the bid teams, who would likely become key players in the local organizing committees that actually stage the Games).
He added, “Do we trust these people? Do we believe they will be able to organize the Games? Never forget we give the Games seven years beforehand. That’s how I did vote in the past”.
