Army guards Olympics as bug hits security staff
HUNDREDS of soldiers have been drafted in to guard Pyeongchang Olympic venues after 1 200 security staff were withdrawn over an outbreak of a severe stomach virus, organisers said yesterday.
About 900 military personnel were on duty after 41 security guards were admitted to hospital with norovirus following the sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhoea on Sunday.
Officials said they were unaware of the source of the virus, which is highly contagious and can also be spread through food or water contamination.
The 41 who fell ill on Sunday were transferred to hospital and most were diagnosed with a norovirus infection.
“The 1 200-odd people were pulled out from their duties,” an official of the Pyeongchang Olympic Organising Committee said.
“They were replaced by some 900 military soldiers.”
The security guards, all employees of a security company, had been staying together at a youth training centre in Pyeongchang, separate from the main Olympic sites.
The International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Games deputy executive director, Christophe Dubi, said hand sanitisers had been placed at Games venues including the athletes’ village.
“A whole campaign of information and leaflets will be distributed to all populations about what to do if you’re coughing or if you have symptoms,” he said.
“As soon as a case is reported then all the area gets disinfected.
“Very stringent measures are in place when it comes to food and beverage . . . and the whole chain of security, quality of the food, they are definitely respecting all international standards,” he said.
Meanwhile, a half-naked activist sporting bunny ears and a fluffy tail braved the Olympic chill in Pyeongchang to protest against the fur trade yesterday but sidestepped the thorny issue of dog meat.
As temperatures plunged to -16°C, hardy animal rights campaigner Ashley Fruno peeled off down to just a white bra and panties while waving a sign that read “champions don’t wear fur” outside the Olympic media centre.
However, despite withstanding the bonechilling cold for more than 15 minutes in her skimpy undies, she insisted People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) had no plans to protest against South Korea’s controversial dog meat trade.
“It’s certainly cold out here, but it’s nothing compared with what the animals go through on fur farms,” she said.
“Unfortunately, fur is being worn by many Koreans and fur should not be seen at the Olympics.” – AFP