More than two-thirds of the 500 people questioned cited the terrorist threat as a major fear, following the bombs which rocked London the day after the city was chosen to host the Games.
Asked which measures might be taken to combat the threat the ‘vast majority’ of respondents said they wanted to see the introduction of biometric technologies, including eye screening, face recognition and fingerprint technology.
Despite that, two-thirds thought that thorough bag searches would be most effective.
But according to Dominic Berger, managing director of Venue Solutions, these traditional approaches to security are “inefficient and resource hungry”.
“Advances in technology for Olympic venues and stadia, including facial detection and IP CCTV technology are quicker, easier and cheaper to run. They will also help to drastically cut queuing times,” he said.
The role of evolving technologies in sports event security is among the issues which will be discussed at the International Sports security Summit at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference centr , London on January 19-20, 2006.
With presentations from the key individuals responsible for security operations at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Athens and next year’s Winter Olympic Games in Torino, as well as the IAAF World Championships, Cricket World Cup and other major events, the summit represents an unparalleled opportunity for knowledge sharing.
The conference's keynote speaker is Peter Ryan, security consultant to the International Olympic Committee and widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading experts in sports event security.
Giovani Pulice, head of security on TOROC, the organising committee for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, and Vassilios Konstandinos, head of the Greek police security operation for the Athens Olympic Games, are among the speakers.
