Gas masks included for U.S. athletes

Monday, Aug. 2, 2004 | 9:20 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

Security precautions in Athens for the 531 U.S. athletes will include emergency masks in the event of tear gas, pepper spray or pollutants.

Team trainers will carry the masks, in flat bags, in their equipment, and more than 1,000 will be available for the 800-person delegation, which includes officials.

"We have received no information indicating the games are in any way being targeted," said Darryl Seibel, spokesman for the U.S. Olympic Committee. "The decision to purchase these devices and provide them to our trainers is based entirely on an experience we had last summer at the Pan American Games."

On the final day of competition in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, last August, a chemical substance was released outside the volleyball site to disperse a large crowd.

"These devices are intended to provide a measure of protection in the event that tear gas, pepper spray, smoke or other pollutants are dispersed," Seibel said. "They were not developed nor were they purchased out of a concern for a possible attack."

Berlin bid unsuccessfully to host the 2000 Games, which went to Sydney. But officials believe their chances are better now that the stadium, built on Adolf Hitler's orders to host the 1936 Games, has been overhauled.

"Berlin stands ready for a new bid," Mayor Klaus Wowereit said. He did not elaborate on when any bid might be made.

Atanas Karaivanov said Ivan Slavkov, a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1987, "is not guilty and the involvement of his name in this affair is a provocation."