ABSTRACT

In an ideal world, during the run-up to an Olympic Games, there would be no need to plan or prepare for the possibility that the Games might be disrupted by terrorists, serious and organised criminal gangs, or some other malicious malefactor. The tradition of the ‘Truce’ or ‘Ekecheiria’ was established in ancient Greece in the ninth century bc by the signature of a treaty between three kings. During the Truce period, the athletes, artists and their families, as well as ordinary pilgrims, could travel in total safety to participate in or attend the Olympic Games and return afterwards to their respective countries. As the opening of the Games approached, the sacred truce was proclaimed and announced by citizens of Elis who travelled throughout Greece to pass on the message.2 Unfortunately, this noble tradition has not been respected by those who, for a variety of reasons, would seek to either exploit the Games for criminal advantage or undertake a murderous attack to seek publicity for their cause. For these reasons, much effort is expended by host governments and various organisations to ensure that vulnerabilities are reduced, thereby limiting opportunities for criminals and terrorists to achieve their purpose. The intention of the UK government and the International Olympic Committee is to ensure that the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are safe and secure for athletes and spectators alike. Indeed, a major factor in the decision to bring the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to London was the commitment from the UK government to ensure safety and security at every Olympic location and venue. The London Host City Contract includes commitments from:

• the Prime Minister, who signed a guarantee to ‘take all financial, planning and operational measures necessary to guarantee the safety and the peaceful celebration of the Games’;

• the Home Secretary, who guaranteed to ‘co-ordinate all matters of security and the emergency services for the Games’; and

• the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who signed a separate guarantee to provide ‘all necessary financial support to the Games, to include . . . bearing the costs of providing security’.3