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CNN Saturday Morning News

Authorities Hope to Make Superdome Safest Place in U.S. Sunday

Aired February 02, 2002 - 08:46   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Tomorrow is Super Bowl and the Olympic games are designated national special security events. We have two reports on that issue. CNN's Rusty Dornin from Salt Lake; but first CNN's Mike Galanos in New Orleans.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE GALANOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: One common thread with Super Bowls is hype. But it is no exaggeration, with the heightened security measures taken, the fan experience for Super Bowl XXXVI will be unprecedented.

But the goal in all this, to borrow a line of hype, is to make the Louisiana Superdome the safest place in American come Super Bowl Sunday.

(voice-over): It is hard to believe, but twice the money is being spent on security, double the manpower is in place as compared to the last time the Super Bowl was held here in New Orleans. That was in 1997.

But beyond the patrolling of the Superdome, what the fan will go through when they arrive, that's what's going to make this experience most unique.

(on camera): Now every fan entering the fenced-off dome complex area will be subject to a security check. That might include going through metal detectors, X-ray machines, being subject to questioning, pat downs. At these security checkpoints, they're going to open roughly five hours before kickoff, so all fans are being advised, show up early and travel light.

(voice-over): If you show up with a wallet and a ticket, you're doing yourself a favor. You're security check is going to go very smoothly.

(on camera): But that's not enough for some people. Everyone's got to make that phone call from the Super Bowl. To use a cell phone, pager, oversized camera, binoculars, radios, all those kind of items that normally make your life more convenient, will make it inconvenient on Super Bowl Sunday.

(voice-over): You will have to go through what they're calling an arduous inspection. Electronic items are being discouraged. Even items you normally see from a fan at a game, things like foam fingers, beach balls, horns, noisemakers, Frisbees. All these things included in a very extensive list of items that are banned from Super Bowl XXXVI.

(on camera): Security officials have been forming their game plan since the middle of November. They believe they are ready for Super Bowl XXXVI.

(voice-over): Now it's up to the fans to be informed and ready for what they will encounter as they arrive for the big game. I'm Mike Galanos.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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