The Olympics are to set a ‘living example’ for the world as security becomes AOC top priority

The Australian Olympic Committee is taking no security chances at the Paris Games, with the organisation committing to briefing all athletes’ family and friends as well as having venues scouted by experts.

French soldiers from the Operation Sentinel patrol on the Trocadero Esplanade near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, on April 15, 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron has hinted in an interview at alternative solutions in the event of a major terrorist threat to the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

The Australian Olympic Committee has made security at the Paris Games its No. 1 priority with all athletes’ family and friends to be briefed and sites scouted by contracted security experts.

AOC president Ian Chesterman said the Games were “ultimately a peace movement” but a lot had happened since the Tokyo Games.

“Since Tokyo, with the war in Ukraine, in Gaza and disputes in many other places around the world it has been an enormously challenging environment for the IOC to keep us all together,” Chesterman said in his address following the AGM on Saturday morning.

“ I thank IOC President Thomas Bach and his team at the IOC for their tireless work to maintain and promote the uniting role of the Olympics continuing to build bridges while others, sadly, look to blow them up.

“When our team takes part in the Paris Games, they will be part of something greater than a sports event, they will be a living example, along with all the athletes of the world, of just what is possible.”

Chesterman said security was always the highest importance for games organisers.

“We live in difficult times and the French are certainly not naive about the threats that exist in the world at the moment,” Chesterman said.

AOC CEO Matt Carroll said his team will brief athletes, their family and friends. Picture: Damian Shaw

“The French Government continues to place security for all participants as its greatest obligation.”

Australia is also taking it seriously.

AOC CEO Matt Carroll said they had held briefing sessions with athletes about the situations with Ukraine, Russia, Gaza and Israel.

“We have our own security consultant who works very closely with Australian Federal Police, the liaison officer with the team and also with their counterparts,” Carroll said.

“We’ll also be providing briefings to family and friends, both of those who are staying here and those who are going to the Games to make sure that family and friends aren’t anxious, because that anxiety can often obviously affect the performance of athletes.

The French authorities are also placing a huge emphasis on security. Picture: AFP

“So we don’t want that to happen either.”

Carroll said the security measures weren’t restricted to the Olympics Village with security consultants also “mapping out” the sub-sites for team sports and Tahiti where the surfing will be held.

“I’m sure the French police and security service will do everything to protect the games and the athletes at the games and people attending the games and we will do our bit looking after our team,” Carroll said.

Police officers, military personnel, rescue workers and firefighters take part in an exercise simulating a terrorist attack. Picture: AFP

With international relations tightly strung, the chances of protests are high in Paris.

Carroll said athletes had been spoken to about preparing for possible disruptions to their routines – such as being late for a training session or an event.

It isn’t a new concept for athletes who competed in Tokyo with Covid-19 protocols and strict testing often disrupting their schedules.

“I’m very confident French security services, transport so forth will ensure the athletes can get through and remove any sort of anxiety that might trying to get to an event,” Carroll said.

“There is also street crime and things like that we have been briefed on. We’ll continue that briefing to the Australian team members and as I said their family and friends.”

The Olympics are due to be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11.

Originally published as The Olympics are to set a ‘living example’ for the world as security becomes AOC top priority