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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