UK, France to hold Olympics security exercise
Feb 17, 2012, 4:26 PM
LONDON (AP) – Britain and France will hold a joint exercise to test their abilities to respond to a terror incident at the 2012 London Olympics.
A joint British-French defense statement on Friday said authorities from the two countries are both working on the exercise, set for March. It did not specify where it would take place.
“We will conduct a joint exercise to test our response to a terrorist incident affecting both our interests,” the statement said.
The authorities said they will try to ensure that efforts to promote the safe movement of Olympics participants and visitors are closely coordinated.
French media reports say teams from India, Morocco, Senegal, Hungary and Uzbekistan are among those training in Dunkirk, northern France, ahead of the games because it’s cheaper than training in England.
The French swimming, basketball and judo teams will also train in northern France before the Olympics.
Security has long been a critical issue for Olympics. An attack at the 1972 Munich Games killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches, making security a top priority in subsequent games.
The London games start July 27 and end Aug. 12.
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