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Our divers in Olympic role

April 17, 2000

A diver from AUSCDT1 with a hard wire underwater video monitor just one of the items to be used to protect Sydney during the games. He carries a Mark 17 diver's helmet.. Picture DPANSW Phil Barling.
RAN clearance divers will be used to search beneath vessels and across waterways for suspect devices during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, two senior Federal ministers announced .

In a joint statement the Defence Minister Mr John Moore and the Attorney General, Mr Daryl Williams outlined a major Federal Government commitment to security for the games.

The ADF will provide about 4,000 personnel, around the same number of people initially deployed to East Timor.

The 4,000 will support SOCOG and NSW authorities.

The support will include security preparations.

"Support to the Olympics will be provided in two main areas, security tasks and general support," Mr Moore said.

"The ADF will work closely with NSW Police to provide complementary support with specialised and highly trained personnel."

Defence personnel will be involved in:


  • Operational searches of venues and vehicles to detect suspicious items.
  • Bomb searches using specialised equipment and dog teams to locate suspect devices.
  • Bomb disposal to deal with and render safe suspicious devices.
  • Clearance divers who can search under vessels and in waterways for suspect devices.
  • Drivers for technical delegates and doping control officials from the IOC Medical Commission.
  • Support for ceremonial activities, including ADF bands to record national anthems and provide entertainment.
Assist with the management of venue logistics, communications and transport.

Mr Williams said that primary responsibility for the security of the Games rested with the NSW Police Commissioner.

The Commonwealth has broad security responsibility for gathering and disseminating security and criminal intelligence, border control, aviation security, counter-terrorism, dignitary protection and enforcement of Federal law.

"At present there is no specific threat of terrorism against the Sydney 2000 Games,"Mr Williams said.

"However, the Commonwealth and NSW Governments want to ensure that the security operation for the Games will be effective, friendly and unobtrusive, and that there are no disruptions to the Games."

Mr Williams and Mr Moore said Olympic security capabilities were developed to a state of operational readiness.

The Commonwealth has full confidence in the NSW Police and we have been working closely together on security planning, the Minister said.

"We are confident that Australia will be able to ensure the safest Games possible."