Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- <A HREF="aol://4344:30.L100fmW7.5295753.685223127"> 09/18: AOL Sports: IOC Studies Plane-Crash Scenario</A> IOC Studies Plane-Crash Scenario By STEPHEN WILSON .c The Associated Press LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) - Security officials prepared for the chances of a plane crashing into the opening ceremony of the Olympics long before last week's attacks in New York and Washington. The IOC said Tuesday that preventing such a catastrophe already was part of security planning for the Salt Lake City Winter Games, as it was for every Olympics since the 1972 Munich massacre. ``In our assumptions for every games, regardless of the tragedy of Sept. 11, the catastrophe scenario has always been incorporated,'' International Olympic Committee director general Francois Carrard said. ``In fact, our scenario was, and is, a plane crashing in the midst of the opening ceremony, full of people, full of fuel, broadcast live worldwide on television.'' The IOC's ruling executive board reaffirmed the decision to go ahead with the Salt Lake Games in February 2002, while stressing that all aspects of security were being reviewed. ``The commitment to the games was very clear and unconditional,'' German board member Thomas Bach said. ``We wanted to demonstrate solidarity with the Americans and send the message that the Olympic movement will not bow to violence.'' The IOC also decided to appoint its own security consultants for Salt Lake City, while leaving overall security operations to city, state and federal authorities. Carrard said last week's strikes by hijacked planes on the World Trade Center and Pentagon would not alter the scope of security in Salt Lake City. ``What has occurred is a tragedy of course,'' he said. ``But the format for security at the games has not in itself changed.'' Carrard said the IOC began planning for such air assaults after the attack by Palestinian terrorists on the Olympic Village at Munich, which claimed the lives of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches. ``We are not pretending we are planning better than anybody else,'' he said. ``We are planning for a specific event, at a specific time, in a specific place.'' Carrard declined to give details of what the security plans were for such a scenario, including whether they involved shooting down a plane heading for the Olympic ceremony. Several IOC board members said they were unaware that the plane crash scenario had ever been taken into account. Australia's Kevan Gosper, a top official in last year's Sydney Olympics, said he was never told about any such planning. Salt Lake Organizing Committee chief Mitt Romney will report to the IOC board by video conference Thursday from Utah. He is expected to brief the IOC on the latest plans for keeping the games safe. Carrard said the IOC would not discuss details of security until after hearing from Romney. ``Of course all security matters will have to be revisited and reviewed,'' he said. The opening of the IOC's three-day executive board meeting began with a moment of silence for the thousands of dead and missing in the attacks, which occurred one week ago. Carrard said the 15-member board then unanimously backed the decision - announced last week by IOC president Jacques Rogge - to proceed with the Salt Lake Games. ``The games of course will take place,'' he said. ``We will do everything we can to assist and help SLOC. This is an important step. The message: sport can deliver, universality, bringing people together.'' Gosper said the board also agreed to bring in independent security consultants to keep the IOC abreast of developments in Salt Lake. ``We should have access to continuous and qualified security advice, while still leaving the actual security to the organizing committee,'' he said. ``We need to be able to understand what is being done. We still have ownership of the games.'' The IOC may also review security plans for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Security there already had been a major concern because of the activities of the domestic terror group November 17, which has killed 22 people since 1975 and never had one of its members arrested. The Greek government said Tuesday it will spare no effort in protecting the Athens Games. Premier Costas Simitis said his government would review its $600 million security plan. AP-NY-09-18-01 1456EDT Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. 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