Hellenic Police Headquarters
Athens, May 23, 2003
PRESS RELEASE
The Olympic Games Security Division organized the exercise
The fourth inter-branch Olympic security exercise in a row, code-named “Lernean Hydra 2003” was completed today (Friday, May 23, 2003) in a downtown Athens hotel. The exercise marked the first time that four “Olympic Cities and Ancient Olympia” simultaneously -Thessaloniki, Patra, Volos, Irakleio- participated via tele-conferencing.
Officers from the relevant agencies and bodies involved in 2004 Olympic Games security (Hellenic Police, the Coast Guard, the Fire Brigade, the National Intelligence Service) as well as officers from the Armed Forces, officials from the Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee (ATHOC) along with representatives from the National Ambulance Service, the General Secretariat for Civil Defense, the Ministry of Mass Media and local government officials from the municipality of Athens and the four other “Olympic Cities and Ancient Olympia” -in other words, the parties that will assume mission, services and actions within the frame-work of decision-making towards the secure holding of the 2004 Olympic Games.
The exercise simulated incidents in a real Olympic environment. The structure and methodology followed offered the parties involved the opportunity to train, cooperate and coordinate, as well as the opportunity to test systems and contingency plans and procedures spelled out in the joint planning, which is underway.
Another important element was the fact that cooperation and coordination amongst the relevant agencies and bodies was under a joint Olympic command.
The planning and organization of the “Lernean Hydra 2003” exercise was the product of systematic preparation and cooperation by all the relevant bodies and agencies with the Olympic Games Security Division`s Exercise Planning Group and the corresponding unit of each participating city.
The code name “Lernean Hydra” denotes a situation of multiple and simultaneous threats necessitating immediate and effective solutions.
More for information: tel: 210 6977505
Fax: 210 6929764
E-mail: elasgrty@mopo.gr
