U.S. gears up tech for Winter Olympics

The federal government is getting ready for the upcoming winter Olympics next month in Canada, about 50 miles from the U.S. command site.

U.S. security agencies have been meeting for six years to get ready for the 2010 games. Why the urgency, even though the games are not in the United States? The U.S. wants to be ready for any emergency, whether it be a terrorist attack or any other kind of disruption.

A new Olympics Coordination Center in Bellingham, Wash., has been built with $4 million in federal money. It includes 56 wired workstations for agencies ranging from the Department of Homeland Security to the local sheriff's office, the New York Times reports. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has temporarily assigned air and marine agents to the location. More scrutiny is expected at border checkpoints for travelers going in either direction.

"If there is any extremist group that wants to make a global statement, the Olympics provides a forum," said Maj. Gen. Tim Lowenberg, the state adjutant general and head of homeland security for Washington State. "Given a choice of attacking a target in Canada or the United States, the United States is probably the higher-profile target."

There have been drills and dry runs for dealing with many kinds of scenarios. Last week, a class was taught to government workers on how to respond if radioactive material is released. Next week, there will be a drill on what would happen if people start racing over the border to the United States in the event of a public health crisis.

For more on getting ready for the Olympics:
- see this New York Times article

Related Articles:
Custom technology to accelerate border crossings
IT helps government seal borders