The security budget for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics ballooned from $84 million to $330 million in the post 9/11 world. In Greece, where 70,000 security persons were on patrol for the 2004 Summer Olympics, the government spent $1.5 billion, including a ratio of approximately 7:1 in security-to- athletes.
Meanwhile in Vancouver the 2010 Winter Olympics security costs will be more than twice the original estimate of $175 million, according to former Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day (the department now under Hon. Peter Van Loan). Day said in 2007 that the original estimate was “drastically low” and that the cost will be, "more than $400 million but less than $1 billion."
The revised estimates made by Day were not surprising considering Canadian security agencies plan to use planes, tanks, ships, and about 13,000 military and police personnel to secure the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. Despite the massive number, a security network will be working hard to keep a low profile in the midst of half a million visitors.
As an example, Canadian Forces personnel and equipment will be apparent only during ceremonial events. Nevertheless the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games will take place under the largest security operation ever held in Canada. This massive security force will be managed using an array of surveillance technologies, with closed-circuit cameras, electronic sensors, and unmanned aerial vehicles aloft over Olympic venues in Vancouver and Whistler.
Armed soldiers and helicopters will be present in Vancouver in the background and overall security will include RCMP, the military, and other security operatives. These games will feature surveillance by hundreds of cameras throughout Olympic venues using face-recognition technology.
The planning and preparation of Olympic security has been extensive. A three-stage series of exercises occurred at the direction of the 2010 Olympic Integrated Exercise Program, and the last exercise took place from Nov. 2-6, 2009. The three stage program consisted of complementary exercises increasing in scope.
Exercise Bronze took place in Nov. 2008, and examined regional safety and security issues. Exercise Silver was held Feb. 2009 and tested safety and security plans, procedures, and coordination. Exercise Gold was a full-scale operational exercise designed to prove that federal, provincial, regional, and municipal organizations stand coordinated and ready to respond to any possible emergency.
The exercises provided a realistic environment with mock casualties, and involved a response from first responders including police and fire services. Exercise Gold took place in controlled areas and brought together 140 federal, provincial, municipal and private sector organizations to test communication and coordination between the organizations. Everything happened away from the public eye as organizations worked from operational centres.
“As hosts of the 2010 Winter Games, we are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for athletes, visitors and Canadians,” said Hon. Peter Van Loan. “That is why Canada has taken a comprehensive approach to security planning. We are on track to deliver a safe and secure Games so that what people remember is the celebration and excitement of the competition, not questions of security.”
“In a few short months we will welcome the world to British Columbia as we play host to the 2010 Winter Games,” said Hon. Kash Heed, BC Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General to media at the beginning of November. “Working with our partners in the federal and local governments, we will ensure these Games are safe and secure for all.”
Bud Mercer is Chief Operating Officer of the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit, who said, “Exercise Gold represented years of planning, integration and preparation with local, provincial, national and international safety and security partners. 2010 will be an historic year for British Columbia and Canada, but the safety and security inter-agency cooperation and relationships will remain in place for years to come."
Police have identified several threats to Olympic security, including anti-globalization, anti-corporate, and First Nations activists, not to mention international extremist organizations like al-Qaida, which already laid down threats to the London 2012 Summer Games. Organized crime remains, however, the highest security risk to the 2010 Games.
The ISU identified a number of domestic and international threats, including the nation's engagement in Afghanistan, which has put a different light on Canada in the international community, causing al-Qaida to warn Canada to withdraw from Afghanistan or risk attacks similar to 9/11 and bombings in London and Madrid.
Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) linked vandalism against sponsors like Royal Bank Canada to protests against the Games. CSIS also noted a group called the Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement has toured North America to stir protests against the Vancouver games.“I think you get a very definite sense that (Vancouver's Olympics are) a likely target,” said David Harris, a former CSIS officer who is director of international and terrorist intelligence programs at Insignis Strategic Research.
To buttress security options in October 2009, the provincial government gave host municipalities (Richmond, Vancouver, and Whistler) the power to enter residences between Feb. 1 and Mar. 31, 2010, to seize signs considered "anti-olympic." A further amendment gave Vancouver the power to fine up to $10,000 and imprisonment up to six months for sign and bylaw violations.
The reasons for opposition include security expenses to taxpayers (said in 2008 to be $580 million), and possible losses to be incurred including debt in the Olympic Village development, which was supposed to be profitable but is possibly running in the red to the tune of millions.
Opponents cite destruction of environment, loss of affordable housing, and use of the Olympics to force a $2 billion rapid transit link from Downtown Vancouver to the airport. Opposition to the Olympics is found amongst First Nations people and their supporters.
The federal government will cover the cost of security at the border, at Vancouver International Airport, and for international VIPs, while the B.C. government and federal government will split the cost of security for Olympic venues.
A First Nation security company called T’musta7 Aboriginal Protection Services will provide security services to the Resort Municipality of Whistler and to other businesses, including Crown Corporations, during 2010 Winter Games. Owner Lyle Leo of Mt. Currie First Nation is focused on the Sea-to-Sky area. “We are looking at 100 pairs of boots on the ground within the next two or three months,” said Leo.
“We are closer than ever to operational status since clarifying and renewing business relations. We had to rethink our plans after VANOC rejected our bid for services directly related to the 2010 Olympics,” he explained, but Leo remained firm in his resolve. “We were the only Aboriginal group prepared with troops on the ground,” he said, “and to be honest, it was quite disappointing to be rejected by VANOC.”
T’Musta7 reassessed in order to create a sustainable long-term opportunity as a sub-contractor, and has recruited security personnel to establish their preparedness by securing public events like music festivals in Whistler and a 4x4 rally at Pemberton.
Leo recruited First Nation personnel exclusively and was joined by Chief Don Harris of Douglas First Nation, who is, according to Leo, “making a lot of headway for Aboriginal community economic development since partnering in run-of-river projects. They want to take part with organizing opportunities for First Nations with the 2010 Winter Games.
“Chief Harris is tuned in with changes in the Aboriginal community with his participation with the election of National Chief Shawn Atleo and the opening of the Osoyoos Business Centre, Leo has applied for security services contracts through Crown Corporation Procurement processes.
Chief Harris said of T’Musta7, “We are recruiting in the Lower Mainland where Douglas First Nation has a lot of members. I am working onpolitical agreements with INAC to get people trained for employment. Lyle has contracts and we had 40-hour training program start with up to 20 more recruits.”\
