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Dornin: Some call it 'Fortress Salt Lake'

'Excited spectators take tight security in stride'

CNN's Rusty Dornin

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (CNN) -- With the CIA warning that terrorists will hurt the United States again and President Bush heading to Utah to attend Friday's opening ceremonies of the Olympics, security has been dramatically increased in the area.

CNN anchor Bill Hemmer talked with correspondent Rusty Dornin about what steps have been taken to protect the athletes, spectators and dignitaries.

HEMMER: Some say it looks like a war zone in areas. Is that an overstatement?

DORNIN: Well, I think Olympic officials don't want to feel like that siege mentality is here, but of course some are calling it "Fortress Salt Lake," and there are more military troops here than there are in Afghanistan for security. There are about 5,000 troops there. There is about 3,000 in Afghanistan, 10,000 security personnel altogether.

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Checkpoints have been set up. Cars of course, people are not going to be allowed able to park near the Olympic venues at all. There will be metal detectors. People will have to pass through, surveillance cameras, that sort of thing, so security will be very tight. In the skies, security will also be very tight. Small planes are not allowed to fly.

As a matter of fact, yesterday, our crew were videotaping in a U.S. Customs helicopter, and a private plane came in, and Customs actually forced that plane to land, because it's not allowed to fly near the Olympic venues.

Now for the next two weeks, there will be a 45-mile radius, starting tomorrow, around the city of Salt Lake. No small planes, only commercial flights. Of course, the airport will be shut down during opening and closing ceremonies. So security is very tight. Last fall, they took radiological surveys of the Olympic venues. If any spikes are noticed during the games, there is a nuclear response team that they can call, so they feel like they really covered the bases in all areas here.

It is very quiet though, Bill. It really doesn't feel -- you don't feel like you're in a war zone. You do see the troops, you do see the checkpoints, but the crowds haven't really arrived yet, and we aren't seeing them trying to get in the venues, so it remains to be seen what it's going to be like tomorrow.

Of course right now, normally we would be seeing the mountains here, the Wasatch Mountains, and the Olympic officials in Salt Lake City folks are really hoping that that clears up so that people can get a view of a beautiful backdrop here for the Olympics?

HEMMER: Rusty, quickly here, do you know the if that security concern has chased people away or not? Have you been able to gauge that?

DORNIN: Interesting, Bill, all of the hotels are completely full. I actually have talked to some folks home that didn't want to come because they didn't want to deal with it, but I've also talked to people that don't have any problems with it, and you know, they're ready to take a shuttle and go through metal detectors and don't feel like it's a hassle, and they're excited about the Olympic Games

So as I said, it's quiet right now, but hopefully, things will pick up tomorrow.

HEMMER: Take care, Rusty. Many thanks.