Greece 'is most secure country on earth'

The Greek government have reiterated their confidence in the security measures put in place for the Olympic Games, declaring Greece “the most secure country in the world”.

Security concerns were expressed in the build up to the Athens Games, even though the Greeks have spent a record one billion euros on their massive security operations.

The threat of a terrorist attack is the main fear, but deputy defence minister Ioannis Lampropoulos insists the public have nothing to worry about.

“Greece is the most secure country in the world,” he said. “No specific terrorist threat ever existed. Local terrorist groups have been neutralised and their members are in jail.

“International terrorism never had any activity, not even threat against Greece.”

The scope and intensity of security measures put in place by the Greek government and Olympics organisers ATHOC are such that civil rights groups have claimed some infringe privacy rights.

The airship hovering almost constantly in the skies of Athens is one such measure which has attracted complaints.

Mounted with dome-shaped sensors, including chemical ‘sniffers’ and ultra-high resolution cameras, the airship will be in the skies for up to 15 hours a day during the Games.

But that is just a small part of the security operation in Athens.

A total of 234 aircraft and helicopters, 51 Greek navy vessels and 28 anti-aircraft missile batteries of various calibres compose the preventive security network created by the armed forces.

Armed forces staff involved in the security amount to 53,363 people, while over 500 vehicles will be used for their transportation.

And NATO vessels have now began patrolling international waters off Greece.

According to Lampropoulos, all this means athletes, officials, media and spectators alike have nothing to fear.

“We have no feeling that we are threatened by anyone,” he told the Athens Metro.

“All those who will visit the country – and there will be many – to watch the games, will sense the Greek hospitality and the beauties of the country in a secure environment, without fear.”