Terrorism poses a threat to this year’s Winter Olympics in Russia, according to a report from the university’s START program, though experts said the danger isn’t quite what it seems.
The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism released the background report, which analyzed patterns of terrorism in Russia, on Jan. 30, just before the Olympics were to begin in Sochi.
Highly publicized threats from terrorist groups, such as a video released last month by the Caucasus Emirate and recent terror bombings in Volgograd, Russia, have resulted in tightened security at the games and heightened concerns globally, with some Olympians asking their families and friends to stay home. Despite this, Erin Miller, a researcher with this university’s START team, said a long history of incident-free Olympic Games can ease some fears.
“The report’s most significant finding is the juxtaposition that on one hand, given a supposed increase risk of terrorism at high profile sports events, there haven’t been that many,” Miller said. “There’s no consistent trend of more attacks at events like the Olympics.”
However, Miller said the risk in Sochi may be unusually high compared to other sporting events.
“The location in Sochi is clearly unusual in terms of the level of conflict. Many read the report and say, ‘We’re fine; we’re overreacting; there haven’t been that many attacks on the Olympics,’” she said. “This is true; however, the level of conflict in this particular region of Russia and the specific threats that have been made by perpetrators that have a history of carrying out their threats — that’s a big contrast.”
Cate Kinlein, a senior journalism and Russian major, echoed some of Miller’s concerns. Kinlein, who studied abroad in Russia, said she is worried about the safety of her friends there.
“Most of the events aren’t in Sochi proper, so you have to travel,” Kinlein said. “Part of the threat is that it would be very easy to hijack public transportation.”
However, Russian security measures, such as the so-called “ring of steel,” one of the most expensive Olympic security plans to date, have eased the minds of some, even if just a little.
“Naturally, the media is blowing it up,” said Alex Shipp, a junior finance major who is abroad in Europe this semester and attending the games this week. “But no one is taking terrorists’ threats more seriously than Russia itself.”
Shipp said getting a visa to travel to the games is extremely difficult — he was the first American citizen to successfully file an urgent visa request in 18 months. He received the visa yesterday.
“The consulate workers were so shocked that [it] went through that they clapped for me when I went in to pick it up, and I got some high-fives,” Shipp said. ”Russia has clearly prioritized national security far beyond the likes of creating an international atmosphere.”
Sophomore economics and finance major Daniel Galitsky said he believes the security will be enough to offset any risk.
“I was born in Russia. I know Sochi is near more turbulent regions,” Galitsky said. “I would say terrorists wouldn’t be a threat because [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s army would do anything to stop them. If anything, security measures might be too harsh.”
