Hundreds of security officials from all over are in Athens Monday to attend a three day, behind-closed-doors conference on security at the Athens Summer Games. Among those invited are the heads of the secret service and police of the 25 European Union member states including the U.S., Israel and Australia. Security officials from 202 Olympic National Committees and the Olympics’ commercial sponsors will also take part in the meeting which is taking place at the headquarters of ATHOC. On the agenda is VIP protection, security of transport and accommodation, international terrorism and information exchange management. Officials will also inspect security measures at three venues – the Games’ main stadium, the athlete’s village, and the 19th century Marble Panathinaikon stadium, site of the first modern Athens Olympics. It’s the venue for the archery competition.
Unless the Greek government agrees to refund taxes paid by all broadcasters, television coverage of the Athens Games may be cut back. Greece has only confirmed the refund of Value Added Tax (VAT) to broadcasters with registered offices in the European Union. Smaller and poorer TV companies, especially those in Asia, without a European base would be hardest hit. Many Asian countries would have to cut back on their coverage of Olympic events to meet the added cost. The Asian Broadcasting Union includes 100 national broadcasters in 52 countries, representing a combined viewership of 3.7 billion people.
U.S. Olympic officials issued a statement last week denying that U.S. athletes have been instructed to refrain from flag-waving victory celebrations at the Games. The statement said, “athletes will be free, as always, to celebrate their performances in an exuberant, respectful way”. Team members will be reminded to treat the U.S. flag “with the respect it deserves”.
