Bob Graham, of London's Sunday Mirror, said he worked at the stadium as a forklift operator without undergoing any background checks by organizers. He wrote he was able to leave the fake bombs after getting them through security.
Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis, in charge of the $1.5 billion security plan, criticised the story and said Greek efforts to safeguard the games were thorough. A ministry spokesman said officials searched the stadium and other venues before the Olympics and found nothing.
The security plan includes about 70,000 personnel and a massive array of surveillance equipment, such as undersea sensors, street cameras and a blimp. NATO is also providing sea patrols and AWACS surveillance planes.
Issues of security screening and accreditation of staff will be on the agenda at the first International Sports Security Summit that takes place in London on October 27 and 28. SportBusiness International is the event’s media partner.
