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American Morning

Salt Lake City Olympic Security

Aired February 08, 2002 - 08:04   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: The big question this morning: Is the United States doing enough to make the Olympics safe? Well, the start of the 19th Winter Olympics, as we just said, is just hours away now. The Olympic torch arrived in Salt Lake City yesterday after a cross- country journey. And the final handoff comes tonight as the Olympic flame is lighted during the traditional opening ceremony, and those in charge of security say they are ready.

CNN's Carol Lin got a rare tour of the operation with the president of the Salt Lake City organizing committee.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Over 200 cameras on roadways have been put up, so we can see -- like up there, we can see what kind of traffic there is getting in and out of venues. Technology, all of our computer team here, FBI in the back, military task force, Utah Olympic Public Safety Command...

CAROL LIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Now, this is an example of the unprecedented, as it has been characterized to us, cooperation between the different agencies. How is it working out?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not just cooperation between the agencies, but also linkage between those of us who are organizing the Games and those who are providing for the safety of the public and the athletes, which is...

LIN: This did not exist in Atlanta.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not that I know. Not that I...

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is something which has really been dramatically enhanced following the determination of a national special security event status, where the Secret Service takes responsibility for planning for safety. The Utah Public Safety Command is responsible for the management of the public safety effort in this area. The FBI provides our intelligence resources. All of those things are combined under one combined entity, so we may not get everything right, but at least we are talking to each other. We know what each other is doing, and the plans have been put together in an integrated holistic way. LIN: Have you received any threats?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are not credible threats that give us pause or concern at this point, but I think you always have to assume when you are planning for Olympic Games that you are a potential target. And so the highest level of security and protection is in place.

LIN: When I was credentialed for the event, you took my social security number and my date of birth. What do you learn from that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately, you learn an enormous amount. By having that information, the government is able, through the FBI files, to look into any possible convictions, any possible things you may have done in the past that provide them with some concern. We have about 3 percent of the people who want to become part of the Games that are turned down for security reasons.

That's one of our magnetometer areas. I don't know which one that is, but that's people going into a venue, and it allows us, in this case, it allows us to see how long is it taking people to get through. That's, obviously, the main media center, because I see cameras and so forth. So we are being able to monitor how long does it take for security personnel to process visitors into a venue.

This board here is interesting, and it's the happiest I have seen in a long time. This is a board, which shows the top issues that exist in this room at this time, and right now...

LIN: You have no issues.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... it's empty, which is just unheard of.

LIN: What has been up there (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, demonstration planned out in front of our offices, you know, how big of a group. We wanted to make sure that it was not going to be disruptive in some way. You know, every day it's a new issue. And generally, a whole board full of issues, but when they get resolved and solved, they get taken off that board, so that's good news.

LIN: Good news.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: And starting today, Paula, they are going to expand the frozen airspace around the city of Salt Lake City to 45 miles. As you know, that means no private planes in or out, no air traffic in or out of that area. And all passengers, who are flying into the Salt Lake region prior to the opening ceremonies on commercial flights will be told to take their seats 30 minutes prior to landing as a security precaution -- Paula.

ZAHN: One of the most closely guarded secrets is about any, you know, details surrounding the opening ceremonies, but being the tough reporter that you are, I understand you have some details for us that might help us understand what it might look like tonight.

LIN: Yes, we wheedled it out of some people actually who attended the very secret rehearsal. It's kind of good that I have big hair this morning, because of the wind that we are getting in this weather shift, because the theme is going to be very country western driven. The guests performing will be LeAnn Rimes. The Mormon Tabernacle will also be performing, and we understand Sting will be performing. That has been public, but what has not been public is that he is going to be doing a special duet with cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

ZAHN: I look forward to that one. Well, listen, I am just hoping for your sake and everybody else's the wind dies down; 70 mile an hour winds in the mountains and -- what -- 30 miles of gusts of 30 miles an hour in the city right now.

LIN: We are hanging tight. And by the way, Paula, one of the details is that the entire performance is going to be taking place on ice tonight inside the Eccles Stadium. So they are going to have live animals and horses walking across this ice. They have been practicing for months to make sure that these animals don't get skittish.

ZAHN: Well, we'll let you go inside and warm up, Carol -- thanks for the preview.

LIN: OK.

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