November 27, 2009
Final exam for VANOC security
By BOB MACKIN

VANOC is going for gold with exercises of its own.

Vice-president of security integration and event services Adam Gray said table-top and on-venue simulations of Games-time operations will happen Dec. 2 and 16. The latter coincides with the last pre-Games review led by Gilbert Felli, the International Olympic Committee's Games director.

"December is really about rubber-stamping what we've done, it still gives us the time, opportunity to make changes that we need to," Gray said Thursday at the Emergency Preparedness 2009 conference.

Gray described his department as VANOC's security and public safety "interface" with Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit, Joint Intelligence Group, Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the United States State Department.

"We've got work to do, official, but nothing significant," Gray said. "We've got the budget stuff behind."

The Oct. 22 torch-lighting in Olympia marked the beginning of VANOC's operational phase. The main operations centre goes around-the-clock beginning Jan. 29. During the Games, key decisions will be made at scheduled morning meetings among the top IOC and VANOC executives, including IOC president Jacques Rogge and VANOC chairman Rusty Goepel and CEO John Furlong.

CANOE.CA