Israeli athletes along with their counterparts from Britain and America will be assigned individual armed guards to ensure their safety at the Athens Olympics this summer.
The guards, who are being provided by the Greek police, will provide 24-hour protection from possible terrorist attacks. The BBC reported that athletes from other countries which have sent troops to Iraq might also receive similar protection.
The Greek minister in charge of the massive Olympic security operation is holding talks in Washington this week. Officials say he will discuss whether countries such as the United States can provide their own armed security guards to protect their national teams.
According to Greek Minister for Public Order Georgios Floridis, who is in charge of the event's security, "Israel is a key country with respect to providing intelligence information to, and training and drilling the Greek security forces." He explained that Israel's involvement is three-fold: testing the reliability of the Greek security arrangements; providing expertise in dealing with suicide bombers; and giving intelligence information about terror organizations and potential threats.
Floridis said that Greek security was preparing for both "conflict-specific" terrorism, such as Chechens attacking the Russian delegation or Palestinians attacking the Israeli one, as well as for general, Al-Qaida attacks on the Olympics itself.
The 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany were overshadowed by the murders of 11 Israeli athletes and officials by Arab terrorists.
The guards, who are being provided by the Greek police, will provide 24-hour protection from possible terrorist attacks. The BBC reported that athletes from other countries which have sent troops to Iraq might also receive similar protection.
The Greek minister in charge of the massive Olympic security operation is holding talks in Washington this week. Officials say he will discuss whether countries such as the United States can provide their own armed security guards to protect their national teams.
According to Greek Minister for Public Order Georgios Floridis, who is in charge of the event's security, "Israel is a key country with respect to providing intelligence information to, and training and drilling the Greek security forces." He explained that Israel's involvement is three-fold: testing the reliability of the Greek security arrangements; providing expertise in dealing with suicide bombers; and giving intelligence information about terror organizations and potential threats.
Floridis said that Greek security was preparing for both "conflict-specific" terrorism, such as Chechens attacking the Russian delegation or Palestinians attacking the Israeli one, as well as for general, Al-Qaida attacks on the Olympics itself.
The 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany were overshadowed by the murders of 11 Israeli athletes and officials by Arab terrorists.