The Associated Press Military Police officer
Joseph Allen, right, checks the ID of
Berlin Ballada at a new entrance to Fort Douglas
on Sept. 14 in Salt Lake City.
By Paul Foy
The Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY “”mdash; With increased security plans already in
place for the Winter Games, Olympic officials wanted assurances
Wednesday that foreign athletes won’t have a difficult time
clearing U.S. immigration checkpoints in February.
The International Olympic Committee’s executive board was
concerned that athletes might find entry procedures less
accommodating in the wake of last week’s terror attacks,
according to Mitt Romney, president of the Salt Lake Organizing
Committee.
“We predicted there would be changes, particularly for
certain countries,” said Romney, who delivered a report by
video link to an IOC meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. “Given
what’s happened, it’s very possible that the processing
time or procedures for certain countries might be
impacted.”
IOC director general Francois Carrard said the organization
expects the United States to admit all accredited athletes,
journalists and other personnel. The IOC issues Olympic identity
cards, which are accepted in place of visas.
“We understand that after such a tragedy the authorities
of the United States review all the security plans, including
access,” Carrard said. “We have recalled that the
universality of the games should be respected … and that those
athletes who are bona fide athletes, who are qualified, should be
granted access.”
Romney briefed the IOC on security changes for the Feb. 8-24
games that likely will include more fences at venues and tighter
security at athletes’ housing and the IOC’s
headquarters hotel.
Salt Lake safety commanders are fully reviewing plans after the
Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington.
“The types of things we expect are a higher level of
security at our alternative housing program at Soldier Hollow, a
higher level of security than originally planned for the Olympic
family hotel, potentially further airspace restrictions,” and
baggage restrictions at venues, Romney said.
Soldier Hollow, outside Midway, Utah, is the Nordic venue and
the only site for athlete housing other than the Olympic Village in
Salt Lake City.
Overall, the experience for athletes is unlikely to change much,
Romney said. Security could hardly be made tighter at the Olympic
Village, which will be heavily guarded and surrounded by
barbed-wire fences.
But spectators could find longer waits and more thorough body
and baggage searches at venue checkpoints, Romney said. And safety
commanders also will probably impose restrictions on what people
can bring into venues.