Thursday, February 6, 2014

Travel Alert and Security Concerns Deter Many Sochi Olympic Travelers

A recent CNN article reported many travelers are reconsidering attending the upcoming Sochi Olympics due to growing security concerns surrounding the games. A U.S. State Department travel alert warns U.S. citizens planning to attend the Olympic games to remain attentive regarding their personal security at all times.

“Travelers to Sochi should expect increased police presence and enhanced security measures in and around the Olympic venues.  There is no indication of a specific threat to U.S. institutions or citizens, but U.S. citizens should be aware of their personal surroundings and follow good security practices.  U.S. citizens are urged to remain vigilant and exercise good judgment and discretion when using any form of public transportation.  When traveling, U.S. citizens may wish to provide a friend, family member, or coworker a copy of their itinerary,” the alert states.

Bombings, hostage takings and acts of terrorism have continued to take place in Russia. “Between October 15 and December 30, 2013, there were three suicide bombings targeting public transportation in the city of Volgograd. . . In early January 2014, media reports emerged about the possible presence of so-called “black widow” suicide bombers in Sochi.  These reports have not been corroborated, and the U.S. government continues to seek further information,” the alert reads.

Often, huge public events such as the Olympics give terrorists an easy target. “The U.S. government continues to monitor reported threats of potential terrorist attacks in Sochi or in Russia in general,” the alert reports.

Spectators, competitors and security analysts all have serious concerns about the safety of spectators who choose to attend the Olympics, the CNN article reported. The article reported 30% of available tickets for the games still haven’t been purchased. The games will bring close to 6,000 athletes from 85 different countries with nearly 40,000 security officers to stand guard, the article reported.

If you or loved ones are planning to attend the Sochi Winter Olympics this month, stay safe. Be aware of your surroundings at all times and use extreme caution in traveling. Full information about the Olympic and Paralympic games for U.S. citizen visitors is available on the Sochi Fact Sheet and the Country Specific Information for the Russian Federation on the U.S. State Department website, travel.state.gov.  The U.S. State Department strongly recommends that U.S. citizens residing or traveling abroad enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) in order to receive pertinent safety and security information.




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