The atmosphere was tense at the spring meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne.
The meeting of IOC leaders was held behind closed doors, but according to sources from the Nordic broadcasting companies, one topic came to the fore in particular.
The representative of Jordan who was there said that he was deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He said the war had created a global hatred the likes of which had never been seen before.
In half a year, the war in Gaza has led to the death of tens of thousands of people, most of whom are civilians and children. International criticism of Israel has grown, and the situation in the Middle East is the most explosive for a long time.
This has raised concerns about the safety of the upcoming Summer Olympics. When you also take into account Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and the terrorist organization Isis-K’s threats to attack Europe, the organizers of the Paris Games are in an exceptionally tough spot.
– The Paris Olympics are the primary target of terrorists, a long-time expert in anti-terrorism work at the UN Edmund Fitton-Brown said for the New York Times after the terrorist attack in the Moscow concert hall in March.
A leading expert at the Foreign Policy Institute who has studied terrorism a lot Olli Ruohomäki is on the same lines.
– Such giant events are magnets for terrorists. Terrorism is also communication and communication. The more spectacular the attack is, the better the organization gets its message across.
Chairman of the Finnish Olympic Committee Jan Vapaavuori says that the threat of terrorism must be treated with extreme seriousness.
– The Summer Olympics are the most watched events in the world. On the other hand, France is a major power with a lot of know-how and experience in counter-terrorism work. I trust that the security apparatus will do everything for the safety of the games, Vapaavuori commented to Urheilu.
France also asked for help from Finland
France has already announced the historically large security measures it uses to minimize risks. According to the organizers participates in securing the Olympics In Paris, 20,000 soldiers and 40,000 police officers.
France has also asked for help from its allied countries. According to the country’s Ministry of Defense, Poland and several other countries have announced that they will send troops to strengthen the security of the games.
The Finnish Ministry of Defense has also received a request for help from France related to the Olympics.
– The matter is being prepared in the defense administration. During the preparations, we will not comment on the amount or quality of the support that may be given, the ministry informed Urheilu by email on Tuesday.
As part of security measures, France has become the first EU country to start mass surveillance of citizens with the help of artificial intelligence. Algorithm-controlled cameras record and analyze the physiological features and behavior of people in the streets, parks or sports events, for example.
Read more: France passed a law for the Olympics, which the harshest critics consider the beginning of a dystopia
Olli Ruohomäki believes that the security arrangements are in good shape.
– Europe and France have been the targets of various terrorist attacks. We have certainly learned from the past. However, it is clear that no arrangements can be made completely without gaps.
Chairman of the Athletes’ Commission of the International Olympic Committee Emma Terho emphasizes that the toughest measures are in use at the Olympics.
– At the beginning of April, 50,000 people ran the Paris Marathon. In the tour of France, more than 3,000 kilometers of routes are covered in the open air. These are very high security events that France has been able to organize.
The Finnish team in cooperation with Supo
Security arrangements have also featured prominently in the preparation of the Finnish Olympic team for the five ring games. The Olympic Committee has been in active contact not only with the competition organizers but also with the security police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Embassy in Paris.
Working in Paris as Finland’s team leader Leena Paavolainen says that the cooperation with the security police intensified before the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Supo offers the Olympic team risk assessments of situations in different countries and cities.
– So far, there has been no message that more specific changes should be made to the preparation. However, the world situation is being closely monitored, Paavolainen says.
According to Paavolainen, Finnish athletes have received some questions regarding the safety of the games.
– There has been a little worry in the air, but mainly the athletes’ focus has been on the spring qualifiers and preparing for Paris. And so it should be.
The Finnish team has already gone through the practices related to movement and housing. The Finns stay in the Olympic competition village in the same unit as the other Nordic countries, i.e. Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
– For example, we have a policy that the whereabouts of each team member is known to the team management at all times. During the Games, we also have 24/7 contacts with Finland, says Paavolainen.
Maximum security measures in Israel
The humanitarian disaster in Gaza and the worsening crisis in the Middle East have intensified criticism of Israel.
With these prospects, the country will send a team of more than 100 people to Paris. So far, little has been made public about the team’s security measures, but it is clear that they are exceptionally extensive.
The Israeli Sports Ministry announced at the end of last year that it would increase its security budget by 1.3 million euros for the Paris Olympics.
– At the same time, you can’t forget other athletes in the Games, such as the Palestinians. Equally important is their safety, says Emma Terho, chairwoman of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
The race organizers in Paris still have many stones to turn. However, Leena Paavolainen reminds us that the teams’ housing arrangements and movement routes to the performance locations are planned with extreme piety.
– I have said before that during the Olympics, the athletes’ competition village is one of the safest places in the world, where the team members are in their own bubble.
The biggest question marks are related to the safety of millions of race tourists and gatherings in public places. Despite the threatening pictures, all the interviewees in this story are strongly in favor of organizing the games.
– It can’t be like this now that the Olympics or any other major event is canceled because the world is in turmoil or terrorist groups are pushing their own agenda. That would mean that these threats are submitted to, says Olli Ruohomäki, a leading expert at the Institute for Foreign Policy.
– The English motto “keep calm and carry on” applies best to this.