Securing the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics will bring out the largest military and police presence on Canada's West Coast since the end of the Second World War.
More than 15,000 people from the Canadian Forces, private security companies, the RCMP and other policing agencies from across the country will be working to ensure that the Winter Games will be remembered as a sporting event and nothing more.
The federal and B.C. governments have set aside $900-million - five times their initial estimate - essentially to purchase a top-notch security blanket for the Olympics. Their efforts will be augmented by an elaborate air umbrella from NORAD, stepped-up security at non-Olympic sites and the work of private security firms hired by high-profile multinational corporations. Armed foreign security services may accompany some heads of state at the Games.
But how safe will it be?
Security experts and those responsible for security at the Games frankly acknowledge they cannot rule out another underwear bomber slipping past the extensive measures they have planned. With the world coming to Vancouver, anything can happen.
"It is impossible to totally secure an event like that," Ray Mey, an international security consultant, said in an interview. Mr. Mey, a former manager with the FBI, was involved in planning security for the Salt Lake City Olympic Games in 2002 and worked with Italian authorities in 2006 on the Winter Games in Turin. He also worked on preliminary plans for upgrading security on public transportation in B.C.
"You can do the best you can, you can take extraordinary measures to do as much as you can to protect the public and protect the event. But there is no way you can completely secure an event like that," he said.
The challenge is to find a balance between a celebration of sport and protection of the public, he added. "You do not want to make it so people will not have an enjoyable experience."
Canadian Forces personnel began arriving this week at the Abbotsford airport, setting up their quarters in armouries and camps throughout the region. Many are staying on cruise ships, the first of which sailed into Vancouver this week. Deployment of military personnel will be complete by the end of next week.
RCMP and officers from 118 law-enforcement agencies across Canada have also begun to arrive. They will be at full strength by the end of the month, two weeks before the opening of the Olympics. Security 3
All law-enforcement officers will wear their home uniforms, providing a vivid illustration of national involvement in the Games.
RCMP Constable Mandy Edwards, spokeswoman for the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit, said the security forces have planned for "what is possible and what is plausible." Their mandate is protection of the Olympics venues and the people: the athletes, spectators, Olympic officials and international dignitaries who come to the Games.
The security unit has "close daily co-operation" with the U.S., she added. Authorities continue to work with partners in Canada and abroad to monitor potential risks to the Games. "We are thoroughly examining all risks and determining what is needed to keep people safe," Constable Edwards said.
The Olympics are spread out across 10,000 square kilometres. The Canadian Forces, playing a supporting role at the Games, will be at sea, in the air and in the back country outside Whistler. "Our focus is on doing what only we can do, providing unique capabilities to support the RCMP in securing the Games," said Major Dan Thomas, a Canadian Forces public-affairs officer working with the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit.
The Canadian Forces will predominantly be the eyes and ears, and, to some extent, the legs of the RCMP in the back-country venues, he said. The military has the mobility and other skills required to help patrol areas around Cypress Bowl, Whistler Olympic Park and Whistler's athlete's village, Major Thomas said. The military's response is "scalable," he added. "If it needs to be increased, we have the resources. We have the flexibility and depth to adapt on short notice, if need be."
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SURVEY / IS TOO MUCH BEING SPENT ON GAMES?
About two-thirds of British Columbians and 48 per cent of Canadians overall say too much is being spent on Vancouver's 2010 Games, says a national poll by Ekos Politics released yesterday.
"Perhaps the most startling element of the poll is that in B.C., there is a veritable landslide for those saying that too much is being spent on the Olympics," Ekos president Frank Graves said.
The pollsters asked a random sample of 3,730 Canadians from Jan. 6 to Jan. 12 whether they thought too much, too little or just the right amount of taxpayer money was being spent on the Games. Some unofficial estimates place the cost of Olympic-related spending at close to $6-billion. Supporters say the estimates include projects such as improvements to the Sea-to-Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler that will remain as legacies.
Spending on the Olympics had the most support among Conservative and Liberal party members (51 per cent) and least support among the undecided (28 per cent). Here's some more results:
51 / percentage of women think too much is being spent on the Games; 46 per cent of men.
49 / percentage of respondents in Quebec and Alberta thought the right amount is being spent, the highest support in the country.
11 / percentage of those who intend to vote for the Bloc Québécois think too little has been spent, the only group with double-digit support for more spending. The federal and B.C. governments have committed $900-million for security at the Olympics. Additional funds will be spent on security by police departments and government agencies. Here's where some of the money goes:
$78,943,750 / accommodations for police and Canadian Forces personnel on three cruise ships.
$30,473,669 / equipment to detect intrusions at perimeter of venues.
$97,419,000 / contract with private security firm to hire 5,000 people.
$29,030,090 / computer mainframes and desktop computers for security operations.
$6,660,639 / voice communications equipment for officers.
$15-million / upgrading security on B.C. Ferries, including 400 surveillance cameras
$15-million ramping up services at Canada Border Services Agency
$17-million paying for transit police and security guards on TransLink vehicles as well as Olympic-related advertising and increased services on public transit to handle larger crowds.
Robert Matas
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MILITARY WILL BE RCMP'S EYES AND EARS
PERSONNEL
CANADIAN FORCES will have 4,500 members in army, navy and air force
RCMP will have 4,200 officers from B.C. and across Canada...supported by 1,800 officers from other policing agencies around the country
PRIVATE SECURITY will have 5,000 people handling searches at the gates of each venue under the supervision of the RCMP
An undisclosed number CSIS agents will also be providing intelligence related to threats.
All law enforcement officers will wear home uniforms.
SECURITY MEASURES
ON THE WATER
Deep sea frigates such as HMCS Regina that are capable of carrying helicopters will be off the coast. Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDV) and Orca class patrol boats will be in Howe Sound, George Strait and English Bay.
RADAR SURVEILLANCE
A temporary medium-range radar system called TPS-70 integrated into NORAD operations has been set up at an airport in Pitt Meadows, outside Vancouver. The radar system will maintain a picture of the air situation over the Lower Mainland and northern approaches into the Fraser Valley. Earlier this year, satellite photography of the geography was done to enable security forces to know where the venues were and how to move officers and troops, if necessary, to all the venues.
AIR SECURITY
CF-18s will be on standby, ready to intercept private planes that enter restricted airspace over Olympic venues. Yellow CH-146 Griffon helicopters with infrared sensors will be available for medical emergencies in the mountainous backcountry and additional Griffons will be ready to transport security officers to venues if necessary.
Air restrictions mean small planes not normally screened must now be screened at smaller airports outside Vancouver.
VENUES
Fencing stretching more than 40 kilometres going around 30 venues.
$30-million for perimeter detection intrusion systems wrapped around fencing.
500 walk-through metal detectors and 1,100 hand-held wands.
900 security cameras at Olympic venues.
MOUNTAIN SECURITY OUTSIDE WHISTLER
Soldiers will be on skis, snowshoes, snowmobiles and in PV206s, Swedish-designed vehicles with enclosed cabins that travel over the snow.
A BLIMP
A blimp will be tethered over Whistler's athletes' village. The airship will have a surveillance system to keep watch over approaches to venues and the backcountry.
ADDITIONAL MEASURES
Crackdown at Canadian Border Services Agency.
Upgrade Immigration Canada to handle increased security screening measures and possible uptick in refugee claims.
Upgrade security measures at B.C. Ferries, Translink's public transit operations and E-Comm emergency response centre.
Upgrade in public safety measures to respond to floods, earthquakes, fires, snow storms, highway disasters, bridge problems, landslides.
Increased security at non-venue measures: 50 to 60 surveillance cameras in entertainment district along Granville Street and at other locations.
WITHIN THE CITY
RCMP marine patrol vessels will provide waterside security in Coal Harbour outside the Main Media Centre in Vancouver, the east basin of False Creek near the Vancouver athlete's village and on the middle arm of the Fraser River near the Olympic Oval. Only those people who are registered and need access will be allowed to enter.
New barrier will be erected at Cambie Street Bridge to control access to water by athlete's village.
RESTRICTED AIRSPACE
Olympic control area
Includes complete restriction over venues, Jan. 29 to March 16, 2010.
Olympic circles
Prohibited:
solo student flights.
aerobatic flights.
forced landing and precautionary landing practice.
unmanned air vehicles (UAV) and model aircraft operations.
TONIA COWAN/THE GLOBE AND MAIL
TEXT: ROBERT MATAS/THE GLOBE AND MAIL
SOURCES: GOOGLE 3D WAREHOUSE, USGS