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CNN Live At Daybreak

Peachtree Road Race Attendance Expected to Reach 55,000

Aired July 04, 2002 - 06:24   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Police in Atlanta are keeping very quiet about their security plans for today, and they have a lot on their hands. For starters, they have to keep track of 55,000 people running in the Peachtree Road Race.

Reporter Mark Teichner from CNN affiliate WAGA joins us live now -- good morning.

MARK TEICHNER, WAGA CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

We are at the place where those 55,000 runners want to get to, Piedmont Park, the end of the Peachtree Road Race, which is the world's largest 10K road race. And the fact that it happens to fall on July 4 only has made matters more difficult for Atlanta police, because they are dealing with security nightmare concerns, as you can imagine.

This coming out of unspecified terrorist threats being placed across the country. So Atlanta police have all hands on deck. Every officer that is out there trying to man the situation.

Now, they've come up with a security plan but they won't tell us what that security plan is, as you can imagine. They are working with federal, local and other state agencies to come up with an overall comprehensive way of dealing with any possible security risks that might go out there.

In addition to the Peachtree Road Race, we've got a giant parade that's in town in the afternoon. We've got two huge fireworks displays that take place, one at Centennial Olympic Park and the other at a mall not too far away from here, all of which are drawing thousands and thousands of people.

And so they have really put themselves to the task, trying to make sure that they can come up with any possible scenario that they can. Just yesterday, the local transit agency, MARTA, as it is known, our subway, they showed off their anti-terrorism mechanisms that they have going out there, everybody taking a very watchful approach to this, being very security conscious. But they are trying to tell folks, they want you to go out and have fun and continue running that race. And the race should be getting underway in about a half hour to an hour or so.

COSTELLO: And a lot of people are still showing up despite the security concerns.

TEICHNER: Oh, yes. They're expecting packed houses at all of these events. I mean we talked with folks yesterday at the Centennial Olympic Park. They're going to have a concert from Charlie Daniels Band as well as a big fireworks display. And they say that they are going to have the park completely filled. This field you see behind us, this ball field is where everyone finishes the race. This place is going to be packed.

Everywhere you go, you're hearing that folks are going to go out and they're telling folks, come out, enjoy ourselves, but make sure you're a little extra aware of your surroundings.

They're also telling folks don't bring a lot of big bags, don't pack heavy. Instead, travel lightly and there will be plenty of officers around for folks to be able to identify if they see anything that seems out of the ordinary.

COSTELLO: All right. Well, you have a good time.

TEICHNER: Oh, yes.

COSTELLO: I have a number for the Peachtree Road Race.

TEICHNER: Well, I hope you do well in it. You'd better get out there quick, the race is going to start soon.

COSTELLO: No, I'm not going to run in it, but one of my coworkers is. And they were lucky enough to get this because it's like gold in Atlanta.

TEICHNER: Oh, it certainly is. They're a tough ticket to get.

COSTELLO: OK, Mark Teichner from WAGA reporting live for us this morning.

Thank you.

TEICHNER: You're welcome.

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