|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
FEATURE | ||
Back to Facility Manager
Contents |
By Kelly Pedone Security took center stage nearly seven years before the Olympic torch was lit in Greece on August 13. Especially after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States and the war in Iraq, procedures to secure the 2004 Olympic Games were scrutinized even more closely. But in spite of such attention, in the end, few of the security measures used in Athens differed from procedures taken for most large-scale entertainment and sporting events, says Damon Zumwalt, president and chief executive officer of Contemporary Services Corporation. Zumwalt, whose company is mostly known for providing security at large-scale events in the United States, wore a different hat during the Olympic Games. Instead of working the security side of the Games, CSC International, which operated as CSC Hellas for the Games, trained and provided a staff of more than 14,000 whose primary role was spectator services. As someone who provides security services, Zumwalt says he was observant of the security practices at the Games, though there are many aspects he could not discuss. Much of what the public endured, he says, was similar to the security practices taken at venues on a regular basis. “From a spectator’s perspective, many of the procedures would be consistent with what they have experienced in other areas, especially since 9/11,” he says. “Most of these involve the newest forms of technology and those implemented by government agencies. Most of these types of security are not meant to be seen.” There were a few exceptions, though, that resulted in a lofty security bill. The Greek Olympic committee spent a reported $1.5 billion to secure the games and much of that was the result of unique security measures for an international sporting event.
Such extreme security measures included closed-circuit television cameras that monitored the city; police and military troops that patrolled the area; helicopters that flew over venues and a blimp equipped with high-tech surveillance gear that flew over the city 24 hours each day; NATO assistance with air and sea patrols; AWAC surveillance planes that patrolled the skies around the clock; and a special forces battalion trained to defend against weapons of mass destruction. Still, attendees saw little out of the ordinary from the more than 70,000 personnel who cast a massive security net over the Olympic venues. The hefty security bill is four times more than was spent on security for the 2000 Games in Australia and 30 times more than what was spent in 1996 at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. Additionally, security for the Athens Games was Europe’s biggest and longest peacetime security operation. But attendees at the Games saw little out of the ordinary. Moving around the Games was simple, with proper credentials. “One hundred yards before the facility you had to show your event ticket; fifty yards out you went through airport-like security, then you were able to enter the facility at the venue door,” says Rene Boisvert with Rainy Day Productions of Oakland, CA. “The blimp that flew over the city and Olympic venues monitored 1,400 points around the community. It made no effort to be inconspicuous.” As the Games ended Sunday, August 29th, Olympic officials were able to take a final sigh of relief as the 17-day event ended without major incident and on Monday, officials were able to proclaim the Games a success. Only three security glitches captured headlines: a Canadian man dressed in a tutu jumped into the Olympic diving pool on Aug. 18; a Brazilian marathon runner was pushed briefly off the course on Sunday, Aug. 29, by a spectator wearing a kilt and green beret; Tibetan activists breached security at the main stadium complex prior to the closing ceremony to unfurl a flag protesting alleged human rights abuses in China, host of the 2008 Games. “Obviously there are individuals around the world who have no class and should be regarded as criminals and treated as such,” Zumwalt says. “There is nothing you can do about people like that. Security personnel are primarily concerned with a wide-spread attack and not the antics of some crazy person. Sure they’re a disturbance, but they are not a threat.” Overall, companies who were contracted to provide services at the Olympic Games were not surprised by the procedures they were asked to follow to ensure a safe event. Craig Lovett, executive director of Cleanevent International, says that many security measures have been front and center since the 1996 Games in Atlanta where a bomb exploded in a trash can at the Olympic Park. One person was killed and more than 100 people were injured. As the company that was responsible for cleaning Olympic venues and facilities, Lovett says his staff had to be aware of items left behind by spectators as well as be cognizant of not leaving items behind themselves. “Awareness of particular items left behind is always front of mind and has been since Atlanta,” Lovett says. “The focus needs to be on our procedures, especially during turnover cleans between tight turn sessions to ensure that we, ourselves, do not leave bags of trash behind. This requires that the operations be very ‘military’ and systematic in approach.” SECURE STAFF Zumwalt says that CSC interviewed more than 30,000 people. Every one of them was required to go through government-executed background checks similar to what takes place for most international events. CHANGING TIMES CSC sent a team to the Atlanta Games to support the security company that had the contract due to a sponsorship deal, Zumwalt says. “At this point, the government had not exercised control over [the Olympics], however, I believe that when the event has national or international implementations, this should have been a consideration,” Zumwalt says. “Now, after 9/11, this is a consideration and Homeland Security with the government may often be involved.” The result is a more professional program implemented, Zumwalt says. “The security procedures nationally and internationally are becoming more and more professional, improved constantly, and consistent in approach.” Many of the functions that CSC and other Olympic service contractors performed were similar to those done in the United States. The major difference, Zumwalt says, was a higher level of security from national police and military representatives. “We cooperated with these agencies from the beginning stages of our planning phase and worked well together,” he says. Since no major security breech took place during the Athens Games it is hard to second guess the hefty price incurred to keep participants and spectators safe. The Olympic credentialing system is stringent and access to any controlled area was taken very seriously. Credentialed visitors driving cars on to Olympic premises were required to get Regular visits, on the other hand, were screened similar to the way attendees are at most large-scale events, again mirroring airport security procedures. “The key is consistency,” Zumwalt says. Zumwalt cannot talk specifics about changes in security procedures but said that advancements in technology should help lower security costs in the future. “Things are being developed everyday to make security operations run more efficiently,” he says. “Any time new technology is developed it is being utilized.” MOVING FORWARD “It is not a moment so much but continual observation of the spectator services team efforts and the successful operation that makes me the most proud,” he says. “On the other hand, a friend, Dane Selznick, is a coach of one of the women’s beach volleyball teams from the U.S. and I was able to watch his girls win gold. It was wonderful to take time to enjoy the match.” |
||
|
© 2002-2004 International Association of Assembly Managers 635 Fritz Dr. Coppell, TX 75019 USA Phone: 972/906-7441 Fax: 972/906-7418 |
|||
Hiring practices for event staff was similar at the Athens Games as they are for most events in the United States. Lovett says that potential employees had to adhere to regular security and background checks. “This process does take some time to clear accreditation, but in the end we were assured of a safe staff,” he says.
out of their vehicle and go through security screening similar to what takes place at the airport. The cars were then inspected by national police officers before their occupants could get back in and park.