Guarding The Games

The Olympic rings are reflected in the visor of an Italian police officer as he stands in the finish area of the Sestriere Colle ski course in Sestriere, Italy Tuesday Feb. 7, 2006. "Everything is under strict control and strict surveillance," Italy's Olympics supervisor, Mario Pescante, told the AP in a January interview. "With all the men, technology and money devoted to this, we've done everything possible."

An Italian police officer checks under a vehicle outside the Athletes Village in Sestriere, Italy Tuesday Feb. 7, 2006. Italy has been on high alert since the bombings in London's transit system, with security measures stepped up at airports, government buildings, embassies and monuments. Another $12 million was added to the security budget shortly thereafter, most devoted to transportation.

Mounted police officers ride near the Olympic Medal Plaza, at rear, in Torino, Italy Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006. About 9,000 police officers have been mobilized for the Olympics, and a central control room is hooked to 21 onsite operational centers -- with connections to police and intelligence services of numerous countries.

A police helicopter flies over the Lingotto Skating Oval Monday, Feb. 6, 2006 in Torino, Italy. Air space over the Olympics will be closed, with the Italian air force providing missile protection and maintaining close contact with military allies.

A woman holding a baby asks directions of two Carabinieri (Italian paramilitary police) officers standing guard outside the Olympic Village in Sestriere, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006.

An Italian soldier stands near Olympic rings close to the Men's Downhill course in Sestriere, Italy Tuesday Feb. 7, 2006.

Italian security officials stand in the finish area of the Sestriere Colle ski course in Sestriere, Italy Tuesday Feb. 7, 2006.

A worker and a police officer check a manhole near the Medal Plaza in Torino Italy, Sunday Feb. 5, 2006 as security precautions continue prior to the opening of the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics Games.

The worker welds manhole cover closed as police officer surveys the area near the Medal Plaza in Torino Italy, Sunday Feb. 5, 2006.

A Carabinieri (Italian paramilitary police) officer guards the platform by a subway train in a Torino, Italy, underground station on its first day in operation, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006. Torino began running Italy's first automatic metro service, featuring new train cars without a conductor which lend the city a sleek, modern look for the Winter Olympics. The metro is operated by remote control from a control center.

Italian Police officers on patrol in Torino's Porta Nuova train station, northern Italy, Thursday Feb. 2, 2006.

Olympics staff , left, are checked by security as they enter the Olympic Village in Torino Italy, Thursday Feb. 2, 2006.

Police officers walk past an Olympic skiing logo in downtown Torino, Italy Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006, days before the start of the Winter Olympics.