By EUGENE BINGHAM in Athens
New Zealand athletes will be guarded around the clock in Athens as part of an unprecedented Olympic security plan.
Greek authorities have revealed they will offer 24-hour protection to athletes from all competing nations, even during their movements away from the Games venues.
With the opening ceremony in Athens less than 70 days away, Greece is gearing up a €1 billion ($1.9 billion) mission that will dwarf all previous Olympic security operations.
Army, Navy, Air Force and police will patrol the streets, sea and skies, backed up by Nato spy planes and other specialist equipment like radiation detectors.
With international athletes' nerves jangled by the September 11, 2001 strike on the United States and the cycle of attacks since, Greek authorities have beefed up their plans and say they are prepared for every contingency.
They have vowed to shoot down any plane that ignores the no-fly zones and is apparently intent on a New York-style attack on the Olympics.
Colonel Eleftherios Ikonomou, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Order, told the Herald that everything that could humanly be done, was being done.
"Of course regarding the sporting delegations of participating countries, a high level of protection and security will be provided, not only regarding their official ceremonies and movements but also during their other movements around the city," he said.
"There is a specific operational plan regarding all movements of athletes. They are going to be guarded on a 24-hour basis and are going to be escorted by cars and vehicles.
"They will have full protection, but for countries that have medium or high-level of threat, we are going to apply extra measures."
It is understood the plans mean New Zealand athletes wanting to leave the village and visit the city centre will travel on buses with armed guards.
Competitors from high-risk countries such as the US, Israel, Britain and Australia are likely to be tailed by armed guards everywhere they go.
New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie said he was more than happy about the level of security.
Mr Currie said the team was preparing itself for inevitable delays because of the measures.
Athletes are being advised to carry drinks and snacks with them for when they are stuck in queues. There are no plans to ban athletes from leaving the village.
"But we will have a system in place so we know where all the athletes are at any particular time, where they are going," said Mr Currie.
"We will have a protocol that you can't go out on your own - go out as groups or teams."
Although the level of security will be higher than anything seen before, the team is confident that they will not let it detract from their enjoyment of the Games.
World-ranked teenage swimmer Corney Swanepoel said this week he was not thinking about the security situation.
"The athletes' village will probably be the most secure place in Greece," he said. "It's senseless worrying - it will just distract me."
National swimming coach and 1964 Olympic silver medallist Jan Cameron said although security would not be as relaxed as some earlier Games, she was relaxed.
"It won't be intrusive," she said.
"We just have to trust the people responsible that they are doing their job. We know there will be armed people on the buses when we go to our events and we have simulated wearing our accreditation at all times."
In 1992, Kiwi backstroker Anna Simcic lost her accreditation pass after her heat and spent the next three hours getting a new one before she could race in the final that night.
Pincer-tight Olympic games security
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