Terror threat to Serena Olympics bid

times online uk ^ | 3-29-04

[doug from upland]

Terror threat to Serena Olympics bid
BY PA NEWS

Serena Williams, the US tennis champion, says the threat of terrorism may keep her away from the Olympic games in Athens this summer, even though she wants to compete.

Williams's warning last night makes her the first American athlete to admit that security concerns could keep her away from the games.

Attention has been focused on security in Athens since the train bombings in Madrid on March 11, believed to be the work of al-Qaeda. Last week Robert Mueller, the FBI director said that he feared that al-Qaeda might try to follow up its success by launching a terrorist spectacular at the Olympics.

"My security and my safety and my life are a little bit more important than tennis," said Williams, after winning in the third round of the Nasdaq-100 Open.

"If it became a real concern to where I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable, then I wouldn’t go to Athens.

"You can’t stop living your life because you’re scared something is going to happen. But at the same time, I’m very aware of things that are going on in the world... It’s definitely a concern of mine. I’d be kind of naive to say it isn’t."

Williams and her elder sister Venus won the gold medal in the women's doubles at the 2000 Sydney Games. She had been planning to play singles and doubles at this August's Olympics.

The Williams family has better reason than many to fear sudden violence striking at them nearly.

Last September, Serena and Venus's half sister and personal assistant, Yetunde Price, 31, was shot dead in the street in the Compton suburb of Los Angeles where the sisters grew up.

Greece is spending £430 million on security during the Athens Olympics, nearly three times as much as at the Sydney games in 2000.

Greek and American troops have just completed a joint two week anti-terrorism exercise, including rehearsals of what they would do if the games were threatened with a homemade "dirty" nuclear bomb, or a ship hijacking.

Following the Madrid bombings, Greece approached Nato with a request to supply surveillance planes, naval patrols and teams to deal with potential chemical or biological attacks on the Olympics.

"We at Nato have reacted very positively to the Greek request; I believe it will be approved," said Nicholas Burns, the US ambassador to Nato.

The worst terrorist act at an Olympics was at the 1972 Munich Games when eight Arab terrorists stormed into the Olympic village and raided the building housing the Israeli squad.

Two Israeli athletes were killed and nine more were taken as hostages. The terrorists demanded the release of over 200 Palestinians from Israeli jails.

A day later a gun battle broke out at Munich airport as the terrorists attempted to leave the country for the Middle East. The nine athletes, one policeman and two terrorists were killed in the shoot-out.

In July 1996, during the Games in Atlanta, a bomb was detonated at the Centennial Olympic Park, killing one person and injuring more than 100 others.

[cyborg]

She's more likely to get dropped in her old hood than bombed in Spain.

[sarasota]

She's just the first, I'm wagering.

[Huck]

I don't blame her. I don't trust any euroweenies to keep the peace.

[Il Duce]

Ah, that's a shame.
Maybe she should stick to beach volleyball.

[NativeNewYorker]

[get'emall]

Given what I've read about the security for the Games, I can understand...

[cyborg]

Actually if Greece keeps fumbling with construction, then she WILL have some justified concerns. I think it was folly to build Olympic Park and facilities on top of a BIG archaeology site (which is what Greece is really).

[Cowboy Bob]

This is just BS.

The Olympics have a strict anti-doping policy. The Williams sisters have been taking steroids and would never pass the Olympic's tests. Staying away from the Olympics due to "terrorism" is just an excuse.

[End Times Sentinel]

I don't blame her. I don't trust any euroweenies to keep the peace.

Given what I've read about the security for the Games, I can understand...

 

My thoughts exactly.  No way would I trust Greek security with my safety.  Not just al-Q, but 17 November will surely be planning something big.

Owl_Eagle

”Unleash the Hogs of Peace.”
P.J. O'Rourke Parliament of Whores

I don't blame her. I don't trust any euroweenies to keep the peace.

[doug from upland]

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......the Olympics are not in Spain this year; they're in Greece.

[cyborg]

Yes I know that. I was thinking about the bombing in Spain.

[El Conservador]

That's why I maintain the position that the whole US delegation sholud stay home for these olympic games.

Given the current terrorist, anti-American environment around the world, it's the smart thing to do.

[thoughtomator]

IMHO the best thing to do is show up, grab more medals than all of Europe combined, then go home.

[mass55th]

"She's more likely to get dropped in her old hood than bombed in Greece."

Didn't a sister of theirs get killed in a drug neighborhood recently.

[longtermmemmory]

I have been there. They have been gearing up for over two years. madrid just took something that was tense and stepped it up a few more notches. The US provided radiation detectors, they brought in israeli security consultants. I have seen on the street practice drills from as far back as a year ago.

This is comming out of england where the left is trying to score brownie points by saying blairs Iraq policy will mean the UK can not go to Greece. It is an effort to be anti-war. This is why this normal concern of a US athleat is being played up.

The construction will be ready, the fancy swimming dome is not going to be built. (the prime minister has personally taken charge of the project after the socialists were kicked out in favor of the conservative party).

Greek satelite TV is showing pictures of the stadiums and roads which have been built as part of a campaign to show the public what will remain after the games are over.

[cyborg]

Yes she did. BTW, I'm not saying she shouldn't be concerned. Terrorists wouldn't stop me from honoring my country. Actually I'd be more game to go and be in their face about it.

[mlbford2]

I wouldn't trust the Greeks with the security of the concession stands selling the large spongy fingers ("USA, GREECE etc #1")much less the entire games. I'd stay home too if I were an athlete.

[mass55th]

I agree with you totally. I'd go just to defy the terrorists. If she doesn't go, she'll be allowing the terrorists to set the rules and run her life. Obviously, the Olympics and her country aren't that important to her.

[longtermmemmory]

The archetect who is on Greek TV and internationa TV with the largest amount of criticism is PO'd because he was specifically overlooked. It is also because he is a communist.

(they also pissed off many small operators by brining in big out of country construction firms. Idiots did not realize maintainace will be a issue to keep the new infrastructure up.)

The use of archelogy has been used by commies to stiffle any form of progress on the 5000 year old city.

Even building the shiny new metro system was subject to constant scrutiny. The tunels would be dug, stop excavate, catalog, extract artifacts, and then dig and repeat.

The games were started in 776 BC. When these games were assigned to greece it was six years ago. This was seen by the socialists as a favotism project, by the conservatives as a massive upgrade of greece project. Perhaps if it was done today there would be a different outcome however the games were given. (Atlanta's effort to skunk the games from Greece back to atlanta was a national news story.)

So far the upgrades in highways and airports have appeared and are no in use.