Test events go ahead amid violence
Source: Agencies |
August 10, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AS the British capital reeled from three days of rioting and looting, Olympic organizers sought to maintain a business-as-usual attitude yesterday, going ahead with a series of events to prepare for the 2012 Games that London will be hosting a year from now.
A women's beach volleyball tournament began as scheduled at Horse Guards Parade, with players in bikinis competing on a specially made sand court a short distance from Prime Minister David Cameron's 10 Downing Street residence.
But organizers decided to use two courts instead of one for yesterday's 12 matches so that play could finish 90 minutes early, allowing spectators and staff to leave before dark.
FIVB Beach Volleyball Director Angelo Squeo consulted with high-ranking London Olympic organizers and police before taking the decision. Squeo, who was on site during the Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Games, said he "will do whatever to not even risk putting in danger anybody here."
The competition, which runs through Sunday, is a test event for the Olympic tournament that will be played at the same iconic venue next year.
Other scheduled test events this week include a cycling road race that will go through the streets of London on Sunday and a marathon swimming competition at Hyde Park on Saturday. The world badminton championship are taking place at the Olympic venue of Wembley Arena in north London.
Olympic men's badminton champion Lin Dan of China said he took some precautions amid the unrest.
"I just aimed not to go along the street too much," he said through an interpreter. "It was all right."
A wave of violence and looting has raged across London, as authorities struggled to contain the country's worst unrest since race riots set the capital ablaze in the 1980s.
The image of the host city has been tarnished by the images broadcast around the world of buildings and vehicles in flames and looters running amok.
"A lot of detailed work has taken place regarding security plans for the Games and we will continue to review them together with the Met Police and the Home Office over the coming year," LOCOG, the local organizing committee, said in a statement.
Olympic security officials said they are confident of their plans and have already taken public disorder into account as a potential risk.
"What is absolutely clear is that we are committed to the Games being delivered in safety and security, for athletes, spectators and the wider public," said Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, the national Olympic security coordinator.
The volleyball court was bathed in bright sunshine for the start of the 24-team tournament. The stands, which will be boosted from their current 1,500 capacity to 15,000 for the Olympics, were about half full for the opening three matches.
"You'll have incidents anywhere you are in the world," US player Brittany Hochevar said after a win over a Chinese team. "It doesn't matter. If you're in a big city, this could happen anywhere in the world."
A women's beach volleyball tournament began as scheduled at Horse Guards Parade, with players in bikinis competing on a specially made sand court a short distance from Prime Minister David Cameron's 10 Downing Street residence.
But organizers decided to use two courts instead of one for yesterday's 12 matches so that play could finish 90 minutes early, allowing spectators and staff to leave before dark.
FIVB Beach Volleyball Director Angelo Squeo consulted with high-ranking London Olympic organizers and police before taking the decision. Squeo, who was on site during the Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Games, said he "will do whatever to not even risk putting in danger anybody here."
The competition, which runs through Sunday, is a test event for the Olympic tournament that will be played at the same iconic venue next year.
Other scheduled test events this week include a cycling road race that will go through the streets of London on Sunday and a marathon swimming competition at Hyde Park on Saturday. The world badminton championship are taking place at the Olympic venue of Wembley Arena in north London.
Olympic men's badminton champion Lin Dan of China said he took some precautions amid the unrest.
"I just aimed not to go along the street too much," he said through an interpreter. "It was all right."
A wave of violence and looting has raged across London, as authorities struggled to contain the country's worst unrest since race riots set the capital ablaze in the 1980s.
The image of the host city has been tarnished by the images broadcast around the world of buildings and vehicles in flames and looters running amok.
"A lot of detailed work has taken place regarding security plans for the Games and we will continue to review them together with the Met Police and the Home Office over the coming year," LOCOG, the local organizing committee, said in a statement.
Olympic security officials said they are confident of their plans and have already taken public disorder into account as a potential risk.
"What is absolutely clear is that we are committed to the Games being delivered in safety and security, for athletes, spectators and the wider public," said Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, the national Olympic security coordinator.
The volleyball court was bathed in bright sunshine for the start of the 24-team tournament. The stands, which will be boosted from their current 1,500 capacity to 15,000 for the Olympics, were about half full for the opening three matches.
"You'll have incidents anywhere you are in the world," US player Brittany Hochevar said after a win over a Chinese team. "It doesn't matter. If you're in a big city, this could happen anywhere in the world."
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