The last few Olympics have all been sadly branded by threat of terrorism.

The 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City came not too long after the attack on 11th September and it soon became known as the Security Games. Likewise the 2004 Athens security measures became infamous as the threat of a terrorist attack seemed imminent and likely due to the war in Iraq.

The latest Anti-Terror Games is depressingly enough the Torino Olympics. After two serious terrorist attacks first in Madrid and then in London, many Italians fear that the Olympics will be a major target for a new strike on Italian soil.
The Italian Interior Minister even went so far as to say that "we don't know where the terrorist will strike, only when" clearly referring to the upcoming Olympics. The Government's continued (although toned down) support of the war in Iraq hasn't exactly reduced this fear of Italy as the next European target.

A report from USA Today even stated that over 700 possible terrorist were under surveillance by the Italian Intelligence
This number was supposedly to come from Italian Police official Luigi Renella who later refused the number as speculation, but also added that "there could be more or fewer." (sounds comforting...)


But muslim extremists are not the only possible group under close scrutiny. Also violent left-wingers are feared to have joined forces with the protesters against the TAV high-speed rail-link which has caused quite a stir in the Piemonte region for the past few months. The Olympic venue might be considered a valuable occasion for getting attention for this cause.

In an attempt to prevent the disaster of an terrorist attack, the Italians will mobilise more than 9000 officers, AVACS surveillance planes with refuelling airplanes will be in continual flight. Missile batteries will even be set up next to major Olympic sites and jet fighters and armed helicopters are ready to intervene should it become necessary.

Whatever happened to the Olympic truce?