In the wake of the recent London bombings, security looms high on the Olympic agenda.
To this end, Italy has promised that it will fight terrorism "with every tool that we have" to ensure the safety of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.
Government officials and Turin organisers unveiled plans for a symbolic "Olympic Truce" for the games next February.
It seems that there have been threats on the internet mentioning Italy as a possible target for future attacks.
Mario Pescante, a government minister and supervisor of the Turin Games, said:
"We're doing everything in our power to ensure that the Turin Games represent a white flag...The other day I took part in a four-hour meeting on security. We will confront terrorism with every tool that we have."
Pescante refused to divulge details of the security plans for Turin.
Valentino Castellani, head of the Turin organising committee, said:
"The safest places in Italy in 2006 will be the Olympic sites...They will be protected and checked before by police, (access) will only be by accreditation, and X-ray security checks will be carried out."
Pescante, who is also an International Olympic Committee member and head of the European Olympic Committees, said that the truce appeal was not "explicitly related" to the London attacks.
Inspired by the cease-fire between warring city-states during the ancient games in Greece, the Olympic truce was reintroduced on a more symbolic level for the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Friday, July 15, 2005
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
No French Bid For 2016 Olympics
Bertrand Delanoe, the mayor of Paris, is still upset about losing out to London in the race to host the 2012 Olympics.
He has decided not to bid for the 2016 Olympics, saying:
"Paris will not be a candidate . . . and if I can support a South American or an African bid, I will do it gladly,"
The Olympics have never been held in Africa or South America. With the 2012 Games in London, it's unlikely the 2016 Games will be held in Europe.
He has decided not to bid for the 2016 Olympics, saying:
"Paris will not be a candidate . . . and if I can support a South American or an African bid, I will do it gladly,"
The Olympics have never been held in Africa or South America. With the 2012 Games in London, it's unlikely the 2016 Games will be held in Europe.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
French Still Fuming Over Olympics
In the true spirit of the entente cordiale, Betrand Delanoe the mayor of Paris is still crying fowl over the decision to award the 2012 Olympics to London.
Delanoe, president of the Paris bid, said that London had not respected the rule of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stating that meetings between bid officials and IOC members should be only informal.
Quote:
"The IOC knows that (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair had written to IOC members to offer to meet them,".
Delanoe said that Blair had then met IOC members in his hotel suite in Singapore, before Wednesday's vote.
Delanoe shrilly squawked:
"Everybody was aware of it and could see it..that's against the rules. I saw people coming out of Blair's suite."
My message to Delanoe is simple:
Shut up, you have lost, get on with your life!
Delanoe, president of the Paris bid, said that London had not respected the rule of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stating that meetings between bid officials and IOC members should be only informal.
Quote:
"The IOC knows that (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair had written to IOC members to offer to meet them,".
Delanoe said that Blair had then met IOC members in his hotel suite in Singapore, before Wednesday's vote.
Delanoe shrilly squawked:
"Everybody was aware of it and could see it..that's against the rules. I saw people coming out of Blair's suite."
My message to Delanoe is simple:
Shut up, you have lost, get on with your life!
Monday, July 11, 2005
No Wembley Fiasco
Lord Coe, leader of London's successful Olympics bid, promised that there was no danger of the 2012 Olympics in London being plagued by the same problems, which affected the new Wembley national stadium.
The Wembley project almost collapsed, after being besieged by political rows and financial problems in its early years.
Lord Coe said measures would be taken concerning the building of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, East London, and other Olympic sporting facilities to ensure that no similar problems occurred.
Quote:
"This is a wholly different project and structures will be in place to make sure that government, the British Olympic Association and all the other agents of delivery will work, and will work extremely well."
London mayor, Ken Livingstone, said that the appointment of key personnel to the London organising committee will keep the project on track.
Quote:
"The key thing now is we attract someone with a track record of delivering things to budget. I want to see someone who has done this sort of thing successfully somewhere else in the world...There's no need for someone to be learning it on the way up. We want to bring to London people who have built great stadia without last-minute hitches and cost over-runs..We want the best and brightest people who want to come to help us put these Games together."
Coe added:
"Anybody that is involved in organising and delivering a Games has to be of the highest quality and that was very clear in, for instance, Sydney. We had a number of the Sydney team on board during the bidding process so I know the calibre of the people we are looking for...You don't want to hurry those decisions because you want the right person but we don't sit around for the next year deciding how that is done. It doesn't necessarily have to be someone with Olympic experience, management is a skill that crosses all sorts of environments."
Whatever they promise, it is a sad reality that politicians and long term projects are a recipe for disaster.
Expect to see the costs of the Olympic project explode, and the deadlines fail.
The Wembley project almost collapsed, after being besieged by political rows and financial problems in its early years.
Lord Coe said measures would be taken concerning the building of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, East London, and other Olympic sporting facilities to ensure that no similar problems occurred.
Quote:
"This is a wholly different project and structures will be in place to make sure that government, the British Olympic Association and all the other agents of delivery will work, and will work extremely well."
London mayor, Ken Livingstone, said that the appointment of key personnel to the London organising committee will keep the project on track.
Quote:
"The key thing now is we attract someone with a track record of delivering things to budget. I want to see someone who has done this sort of thing successfully somewhere else in the world...There's no need for someone to be learning it on the way up. We want to bring to London people who have built great stadia without last-minute hitches and cost over-runs..We want the best and brightest people who want to come to help us put these Games together."
Coe added:
"Anybody that is involved in organising and delivering a Games has to be of the highest quality and that was very clear in, for instance, Sydney. We had a number of the Sydney team on board during the bidding process so I know the calibre of the people we are looking for...You don't want to hurry those decisions because you want the right person but we don't sit around for the next year deciding how that is done. It doesn't necessarily have to be someone with Olympic experience, management is a skill that crosses all sorts of environments."
Whatever they promise, it is a sad reality that politicians and long term projects are a recipe for disaster.
Expect to see the costs of the Olympic project explode, and the deadlines fail.
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