Italy has not received any credible threat to the 2006 Winter Olympics here next month, Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu said on Monday.
"We have not received any sign of threats...but experience has taught us that great events like the Olympics can attract international terrorism," Pisanu told a news conference where he unveiled security measures for the Games.
"We have to look out for anything, of course, but our level of attention is the highest possible," the minister added.
A total of 15,000 people will protect the Games, Pisanu said.
He said the government would use the experience it has gained over the years in providing security for major events - especially last year's funeral of Pope John Paul II.
"We protected two million pilgrims at the pope's funeral, as well as 182 top-ranking dignitaries. Now we hope to do the same for Torino 2006."
Security will also be a top priority because of the worldwide resonance of the Games and its vicinity to the Italian general elections, scheduled two months after the event, Pisanu said. The Italian army will help the Olympic security force, Pisanu said.
Some 2,500 soldiers, about 1,000 of them from anti-aircraft artillery regiments, will help the police ward off potential threats.
Many of the soldiers are already patrolling and protecting the Olympic sites. The anti-aircraft units will work with the Air Force to make sure the skies are safe over Turin and its neighbouring mountains during the event. The Air Force will have fighter
planes ready to intervene at a moment's notice.
The rest of the soldiers will support Games organizing committee TOROC in a range of administrative jobs, with the help of a variety of technology and equipment, including snowmobiles. Metal-detector checks will be set up at the Olympic sites, which will also be protected by sniffer dogs and marksmen. Italy's second Winter Olympics in 50 years will take place in the Piedmont city and the nearby Alps from February 10 to 26.
