Atlanta is getting ready to host the Olympic Games the world's largest sporting event.
Organisers say the centennial Olympic Games are set to be bigger and better than ever. In Atlanta, preparations for the summer Olympics have been underway for months.
From manufacturing uniforms to implementing traffic management, telecommunications, and security plans, the city is ready as can be. Each of the 45,000 Olympic volunteers will wear an official uniform specially designed for the Olympic Games. Dedicated task forces have been set up to address every conceivable challenge.
Managing traffic in an already congested city is a major priority. A state of the art traffic management system, using more than 400 roadside cameras, has been introduced to keep vehicles moving. Traffic expert Richard Tyler predicts that more than two million visitors will pass through the area over the course of the games.
Telecommunications providers are also preparing for a dramatic surge in demand. Paul Warner from BellSouth says service usage is expected to rise by around 25 per cent during the Olympic Games. To ease the strain, Bob Millar of BellSouth has been encouraging Atlanta residents and workers to telecommute, using advanced communications technology. He estimates that as many as 150,000 people will work from home during the event.
The greatest challenge facing Atlanta is security. Law enforcement agencies are preparing for every possibility, including the threat of an attack. Security measures will be tight and technologically advanced. A system known as, hand geometry, will identify athletes and staff using handprint recognition.
For months, more than fifty law enforcement agencies have been preparing for the unthinkable.
Atlanta is doing everything in its power to ensure that this Olympic Games are the biggest and the best.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 13 May 1996. The reporter is Mark Little.
