29 November 2001

The International Olympic Committee has welcomed $40m extra security funding from the US Government for the Salt Lake City Games. This funding is in addition to the $200m already allocated

Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC, said: "We've added more resources and personnel in certain areas to tighten what was already a very secure perimeter.

"These extra efforts are important because the Olympic Winter Games must go on, and there was never a doubt about that. "These Games should be an answer to violence and not a victim of it."

Rogge also said the United States would follow Olympic tradition next month and present a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly calling for an Olympic truce.

"It calls for the gathering of the athletes of the whole world of all the countries to compete peacefully in Salt Lake City during the Olympic Games," he said.

However Mr Bush has ruled out a military cease-fire against the Taliban in Afghanistan, while the Games are on.

The Games will run from 8-24 February.

[Story from BBC Online]

Useful Links:

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Games to go ahead (19/9/01)
Maier to miss Olympics (18/9/01)
British Team Update (28/08/01)
Alain Baxter Interview (18/07/01)
No booze at Olympics (21/3/01)

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