(ATR) Head of the ICSS Helmut Spahn tells Around the Rings that "we all must congratulate" Sochi for an incident-free Games..
"From a security perspective, overall the technologies and when used they were absolutely excellence," Spahn said in an interview with Around the Rings.
Sochi 2014 utilized new technology not used at previous Olympic Games to ensure the event was safe and secure. One such example was VIPRA image technology, which analyzes people’s muscle vibrations and emotional reflexes to screen for conspicuous signs of muscle change.
In addition, Sochi used mostly x-rays, vehicle screening, and conventional security measures for the Olympics.
"After Volgograd bombings within the Russian authorities there was no body criticizing them to put in more personal or more restrictions or technology systems."
Spahn said that high spending and a large security presence was crucial to Sochi’s operation, but in the future security costs may be constrained by the IOC.
"The costs of security are increasing every year enormously. For me it’s not a big challenge to make an event like Sochi safe and secure if you have enough money and enough man power. You can cover a lot of gaps with money with technique with human resources but at the end of the day there will be a limit for future organizers."
Even with all the praise, Sochi was far from perfect. A lack of signage throughout competition area in Sochi, and a lack of transparency for allowing outside observers in security briefings and meetings were areas that the local organizing committee could have improved upon.
Spahn believes the best way to reduce costs is to share ideas and technologies.
"From my point of that early involvement of experts from outside with 10-20 years of involvement of early sporting events can reduce costs and can reduce efforts at the end of the day.
The ICSS is already looking ahead to the 2018 Winter Olympics, where they have reached out to the PyeongChang Organizing Committee.
"In Sochi it was really difficult to get in contact with the local organizing committee people to receive for example a day pass accreditation to have a possibility to look behind the scenes, I hope it is possible in PyeongChang.
Written by Aaron Bauer
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
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