UK: OLYMPICS: London 2012 chairman Seb Coe insists London is not a siege city despite the much-talked about security measures in place for this summer's Olympic Games
Record ID:
330698
UK: OLYMPICS: London 2012 chairman Seb Coe insists London is not a siege city despite the much-talked about security measures in place for this summer's Olympic Games
- Title: UK: OLYMPICS: London 2012 chairman Seb Coe insists London is not a siege city despite the much-talked about security measures in place for this summer's Olympic Games
- Date: 3rd May 2012
- Summary: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 2, 2012 (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF OLYMPIC STADIUM PEOPLE WALKING AROUND OLYMPIC PARK WITH STADIUM IN BACKGROUND INTERIOR OF OLYMPIC STADIUM PHOTOGRAPHER OLYMPICS CHAIRMAN SEB COE WALKING WITH UNIVERSITY ATHLETES INSIDE STADIUM COE POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS WITH REPLAY SCREEN IN BACKGROUND READING "WELCOME TO THE OLYMPIC STADIUM" CH47 CHINOOK HELICOPTERS FLYING OVER THE STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOCOG CHAIRMAN SEB COE SAYING: "The challenge of delivering the right level of security at an Olympic Games is not just smply how can you lock down everything. We're inviting people to come to London to celebrate the greatest sporting event this country has ever seen, we're not inviting the people to siege city. So there is a proportionality here and in this country we always pretty much get that right." SNIFFER DOGS INSIDE STADIUM COE TALKING TO UNIVERSITY ATHLETES (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOCOG CHAIRMAN SEB COE SAYING: "You know, the Olympic Games does have an added tier of security, there is no appetite for risk. I don't think anyone would be surprised with that. But this is what our teams are working on, to make sure we minimise that type of disruption. But yes, there will be checking, there will be queueing but we want to make sure we get that balance right." TIME CLOCK INSIDE STADIUM / REPLAY SCREENS IN BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOCOG CHAIRMAN SEB COE SAYING: "I am satisfied that we've got all the right people, all facing the right direction, asking the right questions in an integrated fashion. And I do actually have confidence at Games time it will work very well for accredited members of the Olympic movement, particularly the athletes - they are the prime clients here." COE POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS NEXT TO CLOCK READING "LONDON"
- Embargoed: 18th May 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAAD1KX7TAV04CUOND1LEA81LBW
- Story Text: The head of London's organising committee on Wednesday (May 2) defended the security measures in place for this year's Olympic Games, insisting fans were not coming to a "siege city".
LOCOG chairman Seb Coe responded to a barrage of questions after news emerged this week that surface-to-air missiles could be deployed at six sites around London during the Games.
"We're inviting people to come to London to celebrate the greatest sporting event this country has ever seen, we're not inviting the people to siege city," the former Olympian 1500 metres champion said.
"There is a proportionality here and in this country we always pretty much get that right."
Coe was also quizzed about the measures in place for those entering the Olympic Park, as it prepares for its biggest test yet this weekend - the Universities athletes meeting which marks the first event inside the Games main stadium.
About 40.000 people - half the capacity - are expected inside the stadium on Saturday.
"The Olympic Games does have an added tier of security, there is no appetite for risk. I don't think anyone would be surprised with that," Coe said.
"But this is what our teams are working on, to make sure we minimise that type of disruption.
"But there will be checking, there will be queing but we want to make sure we get that balance right."
Major delays at London's Heathrow Airport recently has led many to question how the city's biggest and busiest airport will cope in the build up to, and during, the Olympics.
But Coe was not concerned with Heathrow's problems and expected the problems to be solved before the athletes begin to arrive.
"I am satisfied that we've got all the right people, all facing the right direction, asking the right questions in an integrated fashion," he said.
"I do actually have confidence at Games time it will work very well for accredited members of the Olympic movement, particularly the athletes - they are the prime clients here." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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