British Olympic chiefs happy with Games security

British Olympic chiefs are happy with the security measures being implemented ahead of this summer's Games in Athens.

Olympic swimming legend Mark Spitz yesterday raised the spectre of an American withdrawal due to terrorist concerns.

The International Olympic Committee has also taken out insurance against partial or full cancellation of the Games due to, among other things, terrorism.

However, British Olympic Association spokesman Philip Pope said: "The position of the British team is very clear, the security of our athletes remains, and has to remain, our highest priority. We get very good information from the Greek organising committee and their partners. They have outlined the security provisions for the Great Britain team and we remain exceptionally confident that those provisions are the best they can be.

"We are very confident and comfortable with the provisions outlined."

Spitz, who won seven swimming golds at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, when 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by terrorists, believes the US team is at this stage not certain to show up in Greece. With on-going conflicts involving the US in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as heightened terrorist fears since the events of September 11 2001, Spitz claims American politicians will still be keeping an open mind over whether to send a team to Athens.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: "About six months ago a withdrawal was highly unlikely but each day as it goes on, with current world affairs, it becomes more probable than not that on-going conversations will take place as to how important it is to put athletes in harm's way."

However, a spokesman for the US Olympic Committee said: "Today there is absolutely no consideration given to the notion our team will not be in Athens."