Olympics Poll

One-third think terrorism likely at high-security Olympics

By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Government officials say the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics next month will be the safest sporting event ever. Yet a third of the public in an Associated Press poll still thinks a terrorist attack is likely.

The number concerned about terrorism at the games was about half the total in recent polls who feared an attack is likely somewhere in the United States in the near future.

Women were twice as likely as men to think terrorist attacks on the games were likely, according to the poll, conducted for The AP by ICR of Media, Pa. Only one in 20 people overall thought a terrorist attack on the Olympics was very likely.

"My heart is broken, but I think it can happen," said Dorothy Moser, a 73-year-old retiree from Mt. Pleasant, S.C. "I know they want to hurt our country. I'm not really shocked at anything they want to go for."

U.S. officials are spending more than $300 million on security for the Olympics and say there will be no safer place in the world than Salt Lake City during the games, which start Feb. 8 and run just over two weeks.

"I personally don't think there will be a terrorist attack," said Jon Mann, a 34-year-old employee at a Wal-Mart distribution center in Peoria, Ariz. "It's a little too obvious; there's a little too much security."

On a separate Olympics topic, the games will cost about $2 billion - with a fifth of that paid by tax money. Much of the cost will be underwritten by commercial interests.

The federal government is spending almost $400 million, including security costs.

Two-thirds in the poll said they thought the advertising and commercial presence at the Olympics were necessary to pay the bills.

Almost that many - 63 percent - thought tax money should not be used. Older Americans and blacks were more likely to oppose using tax money.

"I'd like to see no tax money used," said Christine Tedesco, a 71-year-old retiree from Rutland, Vt. "Our taxes should go for other things, support the system of helping people who need help."

She mentioned the high cost of prescription drugs.

Six in 10 said they were interested in the Winter Olympics, with 19 percent saying they were very interested. The number who said they were very interested in the Summer Games in 1996 was slightly higher - a fourth of those polled.

Whites were more interested than blacks in the Winter Games by63 percent to 46 percent. Those with more education were more interested in the Olympics. Seven in 10 with at least a college education said they were interested, compared with half of those with only a high school education.

The interest level in the Winter Games was about the same in every region of the country.

American cities are already positioning themselves to compete for the summer games in 2012. Six in 10 in the poll thought the advantages outweigh the problems in playing host to an Olympics.

"It's something that gives a city a high profile, tends to lift a city," said Bob Mickish, a 67-year-old retiree from Rockwall, Texas, just northeast of Dallas.

Like many people, Mickish said he felt the efforts to protect the Olympics from terrorism would be effective.

"I feel fairly comfortable and fairly confident with the home security that's been set up at the Olympics and in the country generally," Mickish said.

Both Director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and Attorney General John Ashcroft have pronounced the Winter Games a model of security.

"Obviously, there are no guarantees, but I believe Salt Lake City will be a very safe place to visit in February," Ridge told mayors who were visiting Washington Wednesday.

Still, some have a nagging fear the Olympics will be an attractive target.

"It's such an internationally renowned event,"; said Tina Owens, a 32-year-old radio announcer from a town named War in southern West Virginia. She feared potential terrorists will be tempted to attack the Olympics because "it's very advertised.

"They know they could make a big impact."