Security authorities in Utah, site of the 2002 Winter Olympics, were placed on high alert yesterday for potential terrorist attacks during the Games. Authorities fear the Olympics could be a serious target for terrorists wanting to carry out more reprisals against the U.S., and security officials have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure the Games remain safe. But yesterday was the first time they took to the streets to carry out training exercises to prepare for any threats. Armed officers stopped cars and searched “suspects” to test out the level of their preparations.
Salt Lake city organizers are back tracking on their strict policy of no refunds then they realized during a site inspection of the Twin Peaks Ice Arena where women’s and men’s ice hockey matches will be played, that 1,230 seats in the west end of the rink were partially obstructed by two columns and ticket holders for those seats should be refunded. People who had purchased tickets which range in price from $45 to $125 to any of the 24 Games in the obstructed sections could have their money returned or receive a $10 coupon that can be used to purchase food and drinks during the event. Mitt Romney, head of SLOC, said he didn’t think everyone will want a refund and said the cost for SLOC could be close to $600,000.
The media centre at the Salt Lake Games opens Monday and will be open throughout the Games until three days after they end Feb. 24. The average daily population is estimated at about 6,500, including 1,600 staff, volunteers and contractors. Access is only for accredited media from news organizations awarded the right to cover the Games through their national Olympic committees. There are separate press facilities in Salt Lake City and Park City for the thousand of non-accredited media. The centre was shut down completely for two days this week for a security sweep.
Five countries, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland and Italy, plan to import their own beer, wine and liquor for partygoers at temporary Olympic hospitality houses, by invoking “diplomatic pouch” privileges. The special status allows Olympic committees to evade Utah’s steep sin taxes, which can add an 80 per cent markup. To use the diplomatic pouch, a country’s embassy must contact the alcohol control department and request approval in writing. The department charges $1 for sticking a no-resale stamp on every bottle imported.
And finally, the conservation group Save Our Canyons issued a report on the successes and failure of the Olympic environmental effort. Their conclusion three weeks before the Games is that SLOC didn’t do all it could to protect the environment. Tom Price, chairman of the Olympics environmental advisory committee, believes the Salt Lake Olympic Committee organizers could have gone beyond settling for recycling and tree plants. Environmentalists say organizers could have developed a mass transit system from Salt Lake to Park City or installed solar panels to power venues. According to an independent review by a business consulting firm, SLOC was successful in meeting its 12 specific goals. SLOC pledged to make the air cleaner with an emission program reliant on businesses donating air pollution credits. Another initiative involves recycling 85 per cent of Olympic trash with a two-bin system that recycles glass, plastic and paper, and composes food products. SLOC will use 8,600 bins for trash and recycling, many of which will be donated to local agencies after the Games. And Olympic sponsors were encouraged to use environmentally friendly products. Some venues required clear cutting of the mountain’s trees. SLOC has promised to replant trees and other greenery on these areas, including in park-and-ride lots.
