Guns are banned at the 2010 Winter Olympics, unless you're a biathlon competitor, cop, soldier or a dignitary's bodyguard.
An International Olympic Committee protocol operations document obtained via Freedom of Information from the Premier's Office includes guidelines for protecting dignitaries.
The goals include outlining "entry arrangements at the venues" for dignitaries and bodyguards and detailing "accreditation and weapon permit requirements for the respective protective details."
It won't be the first time bodyguards have packed heat at a big global event in Vancouver.
The Protocol Coordination Committee (PCC) includes RCMP Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit Insp. Pete Koleyak, who had a similar role with the 1997 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
RCMP Sgt. Peter Montague testified in the APEC inquiry that Indonesian dictator Suharto's bodyguards received four gun permits.
Cpl. Bert Paquet of the V2010 ISU said: "security agents are not allowed to bring their own service weapons into Canada, however these requests are dealt on a case-by-case basis."
PCC minutes include a Nov. 20, 2008 presentation from IOC consultant Andreja Wieser, who advised "the scope of attendance at Torino was the most relevant to the Vancouver situation." Six royals or sovereigns, 22 heads of state, 13 heads of government and 50 sport ministers attended the 2006 Games.
VANOC is hosting 3,500 sport and IOC dignitaries.
The PCC is responsible for 1,600 dignitaries, including an estimated 35 internationally protected persons.
The Coal Harbour Community Centre will be closed Jan. 4 to March 31 to serve as the $341,000 protocol operations centre.
Wieser "hinted" that Vancouver could expect a large Russian contingent, including members of the Duma, or parliament.
"Past experience showed that some of these dignitaries would arrive without proper or any accreditation - these situations placed the organizing committee and its partners under a lot of pressure," said the minutes.
Dignitaries' bodyguards will apply for permits to carry guns.
Bob Mackin reports for 24 Hours.
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freebear
2 years ago
Warning to all pie in face ambushers!
You may end up dead!
DPL
2 years ago
So we are heading toward the
So we are heading toward the friendly games, with lots of non cops carrying concealed weapons. Gosh are we all lucky knowing we might get caught in the cross fire as assorted goons for illustrious folks take shots at each other. Why we ended up with this mess is beyond me. Maybe we can expect a Preditor or Blackhawk helicopter to destroy some building the US or some other authority decides is harbouring insergents. Time to paint signs saying we are really friindly folk. I attended the Commonwealth Conference in Vancouver and watched the horesmen and the city cops each fighting to control the road under the building. It would have been laughable if the guys doing the arguing hadn't been armed to the teeth. One idiot pulled a submachine gun from under his jacket as I took a shortcut down a set of stairs. I was in uniform and picking up mail from the building.I was security cleared for allareas of the building. I told the idiot to smarten up and if he wanted to shoot someone go find a war. What a crock all this security stuff.
Polakite
2 years ago
DPL cracks me up...
DPL, you make me wanna go to the Olympics. As in the shooting Olympics.
Perhaps in your view the BCLibs will let [INSERT BCLIB PARTISAN HERE] fly over Burnaby in a fully loaded CF-18... and I think DPL you know what HQ in Burnaby :-).
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Give me a break! I think you've played too many video games. Go take a walk on the Vancouver seawall, try to pick up a date, maybe go swimming or join a club.