International Olympic officials have “full confidence” in Greece’s record $1.5 billion plan for safeguarding the Athens Games against terrorism, IOC President Jacques Rogge said Monday.
“These efforts are justified as, going beyond the Games, what is at stake is protecting society, democracy, civilization and freedom,” Rogge said at the opening ceremony of the 116th IOC general assembly.
Rogge said security has been the IOC’s top priority since the 1972 Munich Games, where 11 Israeli athletes and coaches died after Palestinian militants raided the Olympic village.
Rogge urged all members of the Olympic movement to “cooperate fully and follow totally” the Greek government’s security instructions.
“I call upon them not to engage in parallel activities, which are not coordinated or approved,” he said. “Security requires a unified command structure.”
Rogge was apparently referring to the sensitive issue of arming overseas security agents. Greek authorities fear foreign guards could react inappropriately in an unfamiliar environment.
Minor offense
U.S. Olympic sprinter Bernard Williams was formally warned by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for testing positive for marijuana at a meet in Spain two months ago.
The drug is considered a minor offense under IAAF rules. A second minor offense would result in a two-year suspension from the sport.
Williams was disqualified from his second-place finish in the 200 at the meet June 5 in Seville, but he remains qualified for Olympic competition after finishing third in the 200 at last month’s trials.
FIFA boss defensive
President Sepp Blatter insisted that FIFA would continue with its doping policies, despite criticism that players get lighter sanctions than those who participate in other sports.
There must be “individual case management” instead of a fixed two-year suspension for a first doping offense, he told reporters two days before the start of the Olympic soccer tournament.
“Everybody has the right to be assessed properly when he is in infraction of any law,” Blatter said.
“It has to be analyzed–how old the player is, what he has taken, what is his background.”
Rockies: No go
The Colorado Rockies refused to let prized pitching prospect Jeff Francis go to Athens, which means Canada’s Olympic baseball team is looking for a new ace.
Baseball Canada received a fax from the Rockies on Monday informing them that the 23-year-old left-hander from British Columbia, who is 2-2 with a 1.97 ERA in five starts for Triple-A Colorado Springs, won’t be pitching in the Summer Games.
Francis went 13-1 with a 1.98 ERA in 17 starts with Tulsa this season, striking out 147 and walking 22 in 113 2/3 innings.
Practice pays off
Swin Cash scored 14 points and Lisa Leslie had 12 points and 12 rebounds, leading the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team to a 77-61 victory over host Spain in the title game of the International Invitational at Salamanca.
“The No. 1 thing that’s concerned me since Day One when we put this team together is getting them used to each other,” U.S. coach Van Chancellor said.
“We’re playing so many combinations out there. . . . In spurts we played really well. We just have to learn to be focused for 40 minutes.”
