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From the Olympics Toword Tomorrow

Shinano Mainichi

Australian police team to get Nagano security know-how

A six-member Australian police team left for Japan on Wednesday to observe and take part in security arrangements at the Nagano Winter Olympic Games as part of Australia's preparations for the 2000 summer Games in Sydney.

The team, led by New South Wales Police Commissioner Peter Ryan, has been assigned to work alongside Japanese security officials during the Winter Games, opening Saturday.

Their tasks cover all main security issues involved in staging a major event like the Olympics, such as venue security, the athletes' village, transport security, counterterrorism and emergency response and general crime prevention, officials said.

While in Nagano, Ryan will also meet with security officials from Salt Lake City, hosts of the 2002 Winter Games. The Salt Lake City officials have also been invited to Nagano as observers.

''It is essential to experience firsthand the planning and operational management of security at this major international event,'' Ryan said.

''A very detailed information collection plan and an extensive agenda of meetings has been agreed with the Japanese National Police,'' he said.

He said he would incorporate lessons learned from security management in Nagano into the security plan for Sydney in 2000.

(Kyodo News)

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Copyright 1998 The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun