Utah officials aren’t among the 31 percent in a new poll who believe terrorism is likely during the Winter Olympics.
The Associated Press poll, released yesterday, found 5 percent believe a terrorist attack is very likely during the Salt Lake City Olympics. Another 26 percent said an attack was somewhat likely.
But Al Mansell, president of the Utah Senate, says he’ll be sending his family to every event he can afford, and he has “absolutely no fear” about terrorism during the Salt Lake City Games.
“I think their fears are wildly misguided,” Mansell said. “The only place that will be more secure during the Olympics will be the White House.”
Thirty-two percent said terrorism was very unlikely during the Olympics and 31 percent said it was somewhat unlikely.
Olympic security, an unprecedented operation involving about 60 different agencies and more than $300 million, is solid, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said after a tour of venues this week.
The poll found some reluctance to use tax dollars to pay for the Olympic Games, which will cost nearly $2 billion - a fifth of it from taxpayers.