Ministry Of Public Order
Hellenic Police Headquarters

Athens, Sept. 24, 2003

Press Release

A two-day inter-branch map exercise begins today, Sept. 24, code-named “Blazing Sword 2003”. The exercise is organized by the Hellenic Police`s Olympic Games Security Division and will take place at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee`s (ATHOC) conference center.

The first day of the exercise includes presentations by foreign experts assigned with the Olympic Advisory Group as well as by Greek specialists. Presentations will be adapted to the basic aspects of the new operational plan for dealing with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats (anthrax, chemical agents, neuro-paralyzing gases etc.). During the second day participants will be called upon to meet the exercise`s demands, based on a complex scenario simulated to an Olympic environment.

Officers from the primary security services and branches involved with Olympic Games security (Hellenic Police, the Coast Guard, the Fire Brigade, and the National Intelligence Service) as well as officials from the Armed Forces and the Athens 2004 Olympic Organizing Committee (ATHOC) also participated. Additionally, representatives from the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, the National Ambulance Service, the General State Chemical Laboratory, the Greek Atomic Energy Commission, the coroner`s office, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Ministry of Transports and Communications, the Central Food Control Agency, the Hellenic Center for Infectious Diseases Control, the Attiko Metro, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the National Meteorological Service.

The structure and methodology of the exercise offers participants an opportunity for training, cooperating and coordination, as well as the opportunity to test systems -pre-planning and planning procedures under a joint Olympic command.

The code-name “Blazing Sword”, used as the title of the exercise, denotes the complete readiness, capability and determination of the human resources involved in Olympic security.
The exercise is the fifth in a series of inter-branch exercises organized by the Olympic Games Security Division within the framework of preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games security program.

The following exercises have already taken place:

• Map exercises:
  • “Trojan Horse” -November 2001
  • “Gordian Knot” -May 2002
  • “Lernean Hydra” -May 2003

All of the above focused on testing security plans dealing with multiple threats simulated in an Olympic environment.

• With the participation of forces:
  •  “Rainbow” -November 2002

This exercise dealt with managing serious incidents, and specifically a plane hijacking and bomb threat aboard a floating hotel (cruiseship). Some 1,800 personnel from involved branches and services actively participated in this exercise under the joint command of the Chief of the Hellenic Police.

Among others, a series of exercises have been planned up until the first half of 2004 as part of the program for Olympic Games security.

More for information: tel: 210 6977505
Fax: 210 6929764
E-mail: elasgrty@mopo.gr