the sydney 2000 olympic and paralympic games - Australian Sports ...

PART FOUR : NSW GOVERNMENT AGENCIES GAMES SUPPORT SERVICES
During the Olympic Games period, around 2,500 NSW police officials, and ADF bomb management
teams, with 50 specially trained dogs, performed over 500 operational search tasks at Olympic venues,
urban areas and on boats in Sydney Harbour.
Dignitary and Athlete Protection
The security overlay pre-established at Games sites provided a highly controlled environment from the
outset in which to conduct special protection of dignitaries and athletes. Australian personnel provided
all necessary close personal protection based on intelligence information, the level of assessed risk
and consideration for the dignitary involved. Protection was also afforded to athletes by dedicated
protection teams.
Traffic, Transport and Marine Security
Olympic Family and spectator transport policing was undertaken by patrols of Olympic-specific transport
corridors, Olympic railway stations and transport interchanges, with assistance from private contract
security officers employed by the various transport agencies. Mobile policing units monitored spectator,
vehicular and pedestrian movements at key locations and along Olympic specific routes.
The sailing competition took place on six courses inside and just outside Sydney Harbour. The NSW
Waterways Authority provided on-water crowd control and spectator management with the assistance of
the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol and the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association. Police vessels
provided field of play security and performed general policing amongst the spectator craft.
All on-water agencies were represented at the Sydney Harbour Operations Centre to facilitate waterways
security and management.
Commonwealth Government Involvement
While Games security was the responsibility of the NSW Commissioner of Police, the Commonwealth
Government played an important role, both in areas where it has a statutory responsibility and in
contributing trained and experienced personnel.
Some 5,000 members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), in two specialist task forces, performed a
range of security tasks, as well as general support functions such as logistics, transportation and
communications. ADF personnel maintained 24 vehicle checkpoints around the clock and performed an
estimated 250,000 vehicle searches throughout the period of the Games. Marine security personnel,
including Navy divers, performed high-risk and routine checks on Olympic watercraft and venues, floating
hotels, wharves and high-use harbour areas.
The Operational Search Battalion undertook the largest deployment of Reserve forces since World War II,
with members drawn from across Australia providing operational search services. A squadron of drivers
was provided to ORTA, as well as managerial expertise for Olympic venues’ transport, logistics and
communications facilities. A Joint Incident Response Unit, including high-risk search teams and explosives
detection dogs, performed 480 security operations tasks during the Games.
The Protective Security Co-ordination Centre (PSCC) provided policy advice and training on protective
security and co-ordinating national programs on protective security, counter-terrorism and dignitary
protection. Its Games-time role included maintaining effective liaison between the NSW authorities,
Commonwealth departments and agencies responsible for Games security in these areas. Other federal
agencies also contributed, with the Sydney 2000 Games Co-ordination Task Force in the Department of
the Prime Minister and Cabinet facilitating arrangements.
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