Olympic games: Vehicle security detectors delivered to Athens

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Two massive devices high-sensitivity security detectors that will scan the contents of heavy vehicles before they deliver their freight (materials and equipment) at the Olympic venues have been granted to the Athens 2004 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games by the government of the United States, in cooperation with the General Directorate of Customs.|ret||ret||tab|

According to a news release from www.athens2004.com, the official Web site of the 2004 Olympic and Paralympic games, the official ceremony for delivery of the keys to the detectors was held July 27. |ret||ret||tab|

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Demonstration|ret||ret||tab|

The operation of the detectors was demonstrated during the ceremony. Each detector is capable of scanning freight on 25 heavy vehicles for weapons, explosives and narcotics in less than 30 minutes through steel that is 270 millimeters thick. |ret||ret||tab|

The General Secretary for the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Vassilios Stavrianos, said in a news release, "This initiative provides capability for the timely discernment of threats arising from the use of commercial packages for illicit and terrorist activities. At the present time, whereupon our homeland is being called upon to succeed in the complex mission of providing security for the Olympic Games, these two devices will prove to be valuable tools in the hands of the Greek authorities."|ret||ret||tab|

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Cooperation|ret||ret||tab|

U.S. Ambassador Thomas J. Miller said, "I am probably the first of the 50 ambassadors whose work is primarily focused on security. This move is a testament to how much the Greek government is focusing on security issues with respect to organizing the Olympic Games. We are working in close cooperation with the Hellenic Police to ensure that the Olympic Games will be secure. The capability of scanning freight is only part of the overall system of the Hellenic Police. Nothing would have been possible, however, without the close cooperation of the organizing committee."|ret||ret||tab|

Miller also referred to the use of the devices in the post-games period. "It is a world-class program, a program whereby the United States and Greece have agreed for this technology to be used after the Olympic Games in the port of Piraeus to avoid any terrorist activity originating from the transport of materials in containers," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

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Deliveries|ret||ret||tab|

Athens 2004 Logistics Manager Apostolos Tzimourtas said of the detectors, "These two devices will contribute the most to the unimpeded supply of the Olympic venues. The enormous number of deliveries made to the Olympic venues, both during, as well as before and after the games, must occur on schedule, but according to specific security specifications." He said there are already 500 deliveries of equipment and supplies each day, but on some days, there will be more than 1,000 deliveries |ret||ret||tab|

"In tests we ran at the training stage, the maximum amount of time for a check was three minutes for cases where we did not have a problem with the freight. This leads us to believe we will not face delays, and that freight will be checked in the most efficient manner."|ret||ret||tab|

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