The Conflict

In the wake of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, there was fear of additional strikes during the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, scheduled for February 2002. While U.S. and Olympic officials insisted that a comprehensive set of counterterrorist efforts would guarantee the safety of athletes and spectators, they also acknowledged that no event can be 100 percent safe. Given the worldwide attention that the Olympics generate, the site of the Games will continue to be a primary target for any terrorist organization with the means to carry out such an attack.

Political

• The Olympics symbolize international understanding and cooperation through sportsmanship. Despite the stated goals of the Olympic Movement, however, the games have always been inherently politicized. They were cancelled in 1916 and from 1940-44 due to the World Wars. In 1972 the Games were marred...