A New Approach to Olympic Games Security
Despite fears of international terrorism, the Olympic Games Montreal 1976 passed off without any incidents of note. The large-scale security operation mounted by the Canadian authorities generated learnings that were used for subsequent Games.
Unprecedented in its scale, it revealed the limitations of Canada’s information-gathering processes, with liaison between local, national and international security agencies being improved as a result. Domestic law enforcement bodies also expanded their surveillance programmes and created stronger ties with local communities in Canadian cities. Meanwhile, a global network for sharing security-related information on major events began to take shape.
The security operations included more robust accreditation processes, increased surveillance, the securing of critical infrastructure, and the use of new technologies, such as an airport-security computer system. Though security was provided for all venues, training sites and the Olympic Village, the policy was to make it noticeable but not intimidating for the 6,000 athletes and the 5 million visitors who travelled to Montreal for the Games.
In total, 18,000 police officers, military personnel and guards were assigned to security duties and 94,147 checks carried out on athletes, officials, employees and members of the media. By way of comparison, a force of 23,700 was assembled for the Olympic Games London 2012, the largest peacetime security operation in the history of the United Kingdom.
The Montreal operation was informed by the tragic events at the Olympic Games Munich 1972, when 11 Israeli athletes and a German police officer were killed by terrorists. The attack meant that future host cities would have to adopt tighter security. The Olympic Games Montreal 1976 set the tone in that respect.