Athens Olympics 2004: U.S. Government Involvement in Security Preparations (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
July 28, 2004 |
| Report Number |
RL32497 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
L. Elaine Halchin, Government and Finance Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The Athens Olympics 2004 are the first Summer Games to be held since the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001. The Salt Lake City Winter Olympics were held in February 2002, but the
Winter Games involve far fewer people than the Summer Games. For example, 2,399 athletes
competed in 2002; 10,500 athletes are expected to compete at the Athens Games, August 13-29,
2004. The Greek government expects 2 million visitors, 21,500 journalists, 5,500 team officials, and
8,000 members of the Olympic family. To help safeguard the Olympics, Greece reportedly has spent
$1.2 billion on security, and plans to provide 25,000 police officers, 7,000 military troops, 3,000
coast guardsmen, 1,500 firefighters, 3,500 private security personnel, and 5,000 trained volunteers.
Major security concerns include Greece's location and topography, venues that were not completed
until spring or summer 2004, and the status of a major security system. While the Paralympic Games
will also be held in Athens, September 17-28, 2004, security concerns have largely focused on the
traditional Olympics.
U.S. government involvement in security efforts has taken several different forms. The United
States, along with Australia, France, Germany, Israel, Spain, and the United Kingdom, form the
Olympic Security Advisory Group (OSAG), which was established by the Greek government.
OSAG members have provided various types of assistance to the Greek government, such as helping
to develop a security plan and providing training on terrorism and explosives. U.S. government
agencies and military forces also, for example, have helped to organize a security planning exercise,
reportedly are prepared to assist with decontamination efforts, and have provided radiological
detection equipment. The U.S. Sixth Fleet will patrol east and west of Greece during the Games.
Overseeing the effort to safeguard the American team and support personnel in Athens will be
the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Thomas J. Miller. In 2001, the State Department assigned a Bureau
of Diplomatic Security (DS) special agent to serve as Olympic Security Coordinator (OSC). (Among
its other missions, DS develops and implements security programs for safeguarding U.S. diplomatic
personnel around the world.) As noted in State Department budget documents, the department plans
to assign 150 DS special agents to Athens and surrounding areas before, and during, the Games.
Reportedly, an evacuation plan has been developed for the U.S. Olympic team.
Since January 2003, high-level U.S. government and Greek officials have met 10 times to
discuss security issues and arrangements (among other topics, on occasion). Among the participants
in such meetings have been Greece's Prime Minister and Public Order Minister, the mayor of
Athens, and the President of the United States, Deputy Secretary of State, and Director of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation. This report will be updated as circumstances warrant.
