International Conference on Security Cooperation for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
Beijing, China–10 September 2007
Opening ceremony speech by INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble
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INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble addresses the International Conference on Security Co-operation for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

See also   Opening speech by Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhou Yongkang - 10/09/2007   INTERPOL provides China with range of security services for 2008 Olympics - Media Release, 10/09/2007

It is a great honour for me to speak on behalf of INTERPOL’s 186 member countries’ police services to express our strong support of and commitment to China’s efforts to host a safe and secure 29th Summer Olympic Games beginning on the 8th of August in 2008 right here in Beijing.

The goal of the Chinese authorities and the entire world community is one and the same:  to allow the Games to begin, proceed and conclude in a safe and secure atmosphere.

Yet, at the same time we know the primary global criminal threat that these Games and all major global events must protect themselves against.  We are one day from marking the six-year anniversary of the vicious and deadly 11 September terrorist attacks that took the lives of almost 3,000 people from 70 different nations.  Just a few days ago, a videotape purportedly of Osama bin Laden reminded us that this terrorist coward and those who follow him consider the murder and wounding of innocent men, women and children to be acts that should be applauded, rather than acts that should be condemned by all worldwide.  Their desire to harm us and their threat against us remain real and present.

Therefore, the alliance to permit the hosting of a safe and secure 2008 summer Olympic Games will need to embrace the public sector, the global law enforcement community, the private sector and - of particular importance - a vigilant public at home and abroad.

We know that, in today’s world, the success of the Beijing 2008 summer Olympics will not be measured only by what we see the athletes achieve in their respective sports, but also by what we do not see.  The absence of a terrorist incident and serious criminal activity will be an equally important measure of the success of these Games.

According to published media reports, hundreds of thousands of athletes, high-ranking government officials, celebrities, journalists and tourists plan to make their way to Beijing next August to participate in, report on and enjoy these Olympics.  Billions of people will watch the Games on television and follow the media reports covering them.  The combination of these elements makes such a major global event a prime theoretical target for al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

Last month, the Security Industry Association (SIA) made the point that, “the Olympic Games not only showcase world-class athletes; they showcase world-class security technologies and services from (the private sector security industry).”  China has spared no cost to put in place state-of-the-art security measures to ensure that athletes, spectators, citizens and visitors will be safe and secure here in China.  “Based on the security investment for the Athens and Sydney Olympic Games, Beijing expects to invest $300 million for security for the Olympic Games.”  In addition, China has built and reinforced strong relations with its law enforcement partners worldwide bilaterally, multi-laterally and via INTERPOL.

The Chinese organizers have obtained advice from the security chiefs of the last two summer Olympic Games; have reinforced strong bilateral relations on questions of security with the 73 countries that have embassies in Beijing;  have created an Olympic Security Organizing Committee that has been open to all countries participating in these Olympics; have convened here this week high-ranking government and law enforcement officials from 33 countries and the Shanghai Cooperation; and have agreed to make sure INTERPOL and its network of 186 member country National Central Bureaus will be housed and working side-by-side in the Olympic Village Command Center with liaison police and security officials gathered from around the world. 

All of this is being done with one single objective in mind:  to help secure the 2008 Beijing summer Olympic Games by ensuring the rapid exchange and sharing of vital crime-related information such as the names, fingerprints, photographs, DNA profiles, criminal Modus Operandi (MO) of those who might wish to kill or harm us.

INTERPOL is well prepared to play a vital role in this joint undertaking.  We have deployed Major Event Support Teams to the 2004 summer Olympics in Athens, Greece; the 2006 winter Olympics in Turin, Italy; the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Berlin, Germany; the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar; the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean Region; and to the annual meeting of the Olympic Committee in Guatemala last July.  Currently, a Major Event Support Team is assisting our French colleagues with security requirements for the ongoing 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.

INTERPOL has been in regular contact with our Chinese police colleagues since Beijing was selected to host the 2008 summer Olympics, and we have agreed to deploy one of our Major Event Support Teams here in Beijing at some point between six months and six weeks before the Olympic Games begin, depending on China’s preference and needs. 

In addition, for these 2008 summer Olympic Games, INTERPOL has designed its most ambitious passport and visa application screening process to identify stolen, lost and fraudulent travel documents as well as suspected terrorists and dangerous criminals.  Our system will permit the automated screening of thousands of individuals against INTERPOL’s global criminal databases at the time of their visa application. This will provide China with the most advanced early detection system of fraudulent travel documents and criminals currently available.

Likewise, as the Games approach, INTERPOL’s 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week Command and Co-ordination Center and our Criminal Data Processing unit based at INTERPOL Headquarters, will give the highest priority to information relevant to the security of these Games that passes through our 186-member country network of INTERPOL National Central Bureaus, and our Analytical Unit will generate strategic and terrorist specific reports tailored to the needs of the Chinese police authorities.

In closing, we all know that China’s population is the largest and one of the most industrious in the world, and we appreciate China’s rich cultural heritage that dates back nearly 4,000 years.  The Chinese have a well-earned reputation for caring deeply that their guests and visitors are treated well and remain safe while in China.  This is particularly true in connection with China’s hosting of the 2008 Beijing summer Olympic Games.  Indeed, as INTERPOL’s Secretary General, I firmly believe that the Chinese police services and those responsible for security are going to great lengths to make these Olympics safe and secure, and thus a great success.

Mr. Minister, I am similarly confident that those of us gathered here today and the countries and institutions we represent will continue to do everything possible to achieve our joint goal of a safe and secure 2008 Beijing summer Olympic Games.

Thank you