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Why leave any stone unturned? Posted: Monday February 11, 2002 2:35 PM
Working for a news organization, it is only to be expected that coverage of the XIX Olympic Winter Games involves more than merely addressing the sporting spectacle. The big topic of discussion entering the games was security. On many an appearance for the various CNN networks of CNN during my time in Salt Lake City, I've been asked time and time again about the safety of the Olympics. Is security tight? Is it an inconvenience? Is it an annoyance? Yes, it's tight. After the organizers spent $310 million on security, did anyone really expect anything less? Yes, it can be an inconvenience, as spectators who missed the entire qualifying round of women's moguls discovered when they were held up in long security queues. But after Sept. 11 it is wholly necessary. Is there anyone out there would have it any other way in the current world climate, apart from one Larissa Lazutina? The Russian cross-country skier, silver medalist in the 15 kilometers on Saturday, was indignant that her water bottle had to be sniffed entering the venue at Soldier Hollow, calling the stringent checks on athletes a "put down". She declared: "We're here to compete. We have nothing else on our minds." I doubt, however, security forces ever thought of embracing the notion of one set of rules for athletes and another for the rest of us, although the water and food thing sounds decidedly odd. Stories of people being asked to take bites out of their sandwiches from packed lunches are bizarre in the extreme. But why leave any stone unturned -- or slice of bread for that matter? We didn't think box cutters and our own airliners posed much of a national security threat pre-Sept. 11. Is anything now really outside the realm of possibility? Police in bright yellow outfits and the National Guard in camouflage suits, armed with rifles, are most visible at competition venues, media centers and the airport. A host of officers patrol the streets here in Park City. Security is evident without appearing over-bearing. Now we have to hope we hear nothing more of it, that the flow of spectator traffic at venues remains fluid, that police can continue to pleasantly mingle, that not one single rifle will be cocked in anger and that Ms. Lazutina's water bottle won't be sniffed any more than is absolutely necessary. Phil Jones is co-host of World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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