Posted on 03/29/2004 8:50:56 AM PST by 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.
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.
When it is someones life on the line then i personally let them make their own decisions on the matter (unless they are soldiers and have taken an oath to protect their nation). You might say that by not going she is 'allowing the terrorists to set the rules and run her life' and that she doesn't think the 'olympics and her country are that important to her.' On the other hand she would probably say that her life is worth more than any sport competition, which is what the Olympics is. She even said something along those lines: 'My security and my safety and my life are a little bit more important than tennis.'
Now, both your statements are valid, but hers more so since it is her life on the line. Were you going there and she was staying here then, in that case, your points would become more valid since your life was on the line.
I believe LTM plans on being there. Perfect. That is the good thing to do for LTM. Serena does not want to go. Perfect. That is the good thing to do for Serena. Both people have made their own decisions, and since it is their own life then i respect both decisions. I would not criticize LTM for going and Serena for not going. Honestly the only person in this thread who can criticize Serena is LTM (or any other freeper who will attend the games), because he/she is going to attend.
It is one thing when terrorists are planning to hit you at home. There is no need to fear and live your life subjugated with the constant feeling that today mgiht be the day some Islamic nut decides to meet his virgins. Hey, i'd live my life with gusto and dare the terrorists to do all they want to do. I would not spend a second of my life trembling at what they might do.
However that is at home. Just because i refuse to give terrorists the time of day does not mean i would go to a place overseas that is a huge target for terrorism. The Olympics this year has everyone, including respected terror analysts, saying it is a huge target. A perfect target. If a person does not want to go there that is fine by me. And that does not make them a coward in my book. Just prudent.
I am not afraid of robbers. They come into my house they will not like the experience (even if they are a whole bunch at least one or two will not be going home). However i would not go trotting down the seedy parts of LA in a Brioni suit and my Rado watch because robbers do not give me pause.
Something HAS changed since 2000. She got real big, and she started winning a bunch of Grand Slam tournaments. Compare a picture of Serena Williams in 2000 to a picture of her in 2003 -- and you'll understand why people have speculated that she has been using performance-enhancing drugs.
I heard a fascinating interview on a local sports radio station last year with a reputable physical trainer. He described the physical characteristics that he used to determine whether or not someone was using steroids, including a pronounced change in muscle mass in a short period of time (he claimed that nobody using "natural" methods could add more than 10-15 pounds of muscle mass during a typical off-season period) and a noticeable change in an athlete's head size and facial features.
He then rattled off a list of well-known athletes who were "on the juice," including baseball players Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Jason Giambi, along with Serena Williams. Anyone who still thinks Bonds, Sosa and Giambi were clean is delusional, as evidenced by the fact they showed up for spring training this year looking like toothpicks (conveniently, this was right after their trainer was indicted for marketing steroids).
If Serena Williams competes in the 2004 Olympics, watch how she magically sheds about 20 pounds of muscle mass before she shows up in Athens.
And what freedom are you willing to give up next to appease the terrorists?
What bunk. I have gone to Europe every year since 911. I have been asked if I am afraid. Of course I am, but I won't allow the terrorists to dictate my freedoms.
I do not believe that anyone should be representing America if they are such a coward. Freedom and liberty do have a price.
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