Canadian Olympic officials have ‘utmost confidence’ Sochi Olympic athletes will be safe

Despite the apparent threat of suicide bombers and a recent video released by Islamic extremists threatening an attack on the Sochi Games, Canadian Olympic officials say they are confident athletes will be safe while competing in Russia.

A Canadian Olympic Committee statement issued to Yahoo Canada News said security is of the upmost concern for athletes, trainers and volunteers.

“We have the utmost confidence that the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee will deliver a top quality Olympic Winter Games,” the statement reads.

“The Canadian Olympic Committee works very closely with the RCMP, Sochi and Russian security agencies, medical and government partners in the months and years leading up to the Games to ensure the entire team remains safe throughout the Games. As with each Olympic Games, our safety and security measures are always adapted as required.”

Security threats have long been associated with the Olympic events, but the level of fear has been elevated in recent days due to an apparent elevation in terrorist activity and attention.

Russian security officials are reportedly searching for three potential female suicide bombers - one of whom could already be in Sochi.

The Associated Press reports that 22-year-old Ruzanna Ibragimova, the widow of an Islamic militant, was believed to be in Sochi, where the Winter Olympics will begin in early February.

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Late last year, two suicide bombings killed 34 people in the city of Volgograd – located 1,000 kilometres northeast of Sochi. An Islamic militant group has recently released a video claiming responsibility for the bombings and vowing to attack Sochi during the Games.

The Globe and Mail already has reporters in Russia ahead of the Games. The newspaper reports that the men in the video were wearing what appeared to be bomb belts and warned President Vladimir Putin to cancel the Games.

“We have prepared a... present for you, for you (President Putin) and all those tourists who will come over,” says one of the men in video, according to the Globe.

“If you hold the Olympics you will receive a present from us. It will be for all the Muslim blood that is shed every day around the world, be it in Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, all around the world. This will be our revenge.”

Despite the concerns, events leading up to the start of the Olympics have gone off without issue. The Olympic Torch Relay ran through Volgograd on Monday - the 117th Russian town since October. Local reports suggest security detail was tight during the appearance, but were ultimately peaceful.

Russia is not the first Olympic host country to be threatened by violence. The 1972 Munich Olympics was the target of a massacre that left 11 Israeli team members dead. The 1996 Atlanta Games were targeted by a terrorist bombing that killed two.

More recent Games also faced security threats. Vancouver was the target of hoaxes and empty threats in 2010 and London was warned of an al-Qaeda-inspired attack and feared a cyber attack during the 2012 opening ceremony.

Russian threats, however, could stem from a long-brewing storm. The country has been embroiled for years in a violent standoff with Islamist militants in the region of Dagestan. Ibragimova, similar to previous "black widow" suicide bombers, is the widow of a militant killed in the region.

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Bill Rathburn, security director for the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, recently told Yahoo News that Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov has called for the disruption of the Olympics.

“The security threat is higher than it’s ever been in the history of the Olympic Games,” Rathburn said. “In my opinion, it’s not a matter of whether there will be some incident, it’s just a matter of how bad it’s going to be.”

The government of Canada, meantime, is not warning against travel to the Sochi Games and has vowed that special security arrangements will be in place to protect visitors at Olympic venues, airports and border crossings.

Travel Canada does warn against travel to several regions of the country, specifically Chechnya and Dagestan, but considers much of the country safe for travel.

However, an active security statement does read, "Terrorist incidents ... may happen throughout Russia. Exercise caution in public places, particularly on public transport (including subways, railways, airports and buses), and during large gatherings and events."

There may be threats to the Sochi Olympics, but so far it seems to be full steam ahead for Canadian athletes and tourists.

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