They will check all area and all corner – the operation to safe the Olympic Games in Paris has already begun. Trained to search for explosives dogs of the Polish Army and their guides have just begun searching the Olympic village. Poles aid French services and armies.
The Polish Military Quota "Olimp" has been in France for respective days, under the command of the Operations Command of Types of Armed Forces. PKW forms 20 soldiers, and 8 of them are dog guides along with four-legged subjects. In the country they service in the 2nd Bomb Squadron in Kazun and in the Military Gendarmerie. Poland has sent to France 1 of the largest quotas issued by NATO countries to safe the Olympic Games. “Our main task is to check the facilities of, among others, the Olympic village for the threat of explosives,” said Colonel Damian Zalewski, commander of PKW Olimp, officer of the General Command of the RSZ. Poles will service in global teams, including French dog guides and bomb squads, besides from the abroad Legion. They will safe infrastructure and advise on anti-terrorism.
Polish guides began their work yesterday, 3 weeks before the start of the games. Before that, dogs were certified, and their skills were assessed by French specialists. The dogs had to find the containers with the explosive samples. They did large and were rated very high, says Colonel Zalewski. – For all well done task the guide rewards the dog with a treat or a minute of fun. We must remember that this work that animals do is still... fun for them,” the officer adds. The guides passed the certification test in Poland. Soldiers had to demonstrate, among others, cognition of dog behaviour, but besides the procedures according to which dog guides operate throughout NATO.
PKW Olimp soldiers will check the buildings of the Olympic village, where athletes from around the planet will live during the games. “Every room, even the smallest room, will be checked,” says Colonel Damian Zalewski. – presently the village is completely empty, which gives us large comfort of work, due to the fact that we can easy enter anywhere. erstwhile we have completed our activities, the buildings will be closed until the athletes arrive," the officer adds.
If the dog detects anything disturbing, French bomb squads will be called in to decide what to do.
The work of dogs is very specific, so no 1 present can answer the question of how long it will take to check buildings. – It is very crucial erstwhile performing tasks with dogs that their condition is important, they must be rested and quiet – says Colonel Zalewski. – And after a fewer minutes of action, the dog needs to remainder before being re-directed to work – explains the officer. He adds that dogs can besides simply get bored and will not want to work. “This is why we anticipate long-term and monotonous actions to await us, but all so that athletes can safely participate in competition and win medals,” says the officer.
All PKW Olimp soldiers have their fingers crossed especially for Polish players who service in the army all day. “We hope they will get as many medals as possible!” says Colonel Damian Zalewski.
Poles will lead the mission within PKW Olimp not only during the XXXIII summertime Olympics, but besides during the Paralympics, which will begin on 28 August and end on 8 September.
Poles will not be helping organizers of the Olympic Games for the first time. In 2004, the Greek government, in connection with the terrorist threat, asked NATO to aid safe the Athens Games. In response, the Alliance launched Operation Distinguished Games. It was besides attended by the Polish military contingent: 52 soldiers from the 5th Tarnogórski Chemical Battalion and 10th Logistics Brigade from Opole.
The Games in France will begin on 26 July and will last until 11 August 2024. The competition was planned on 35 facilities in 18 cities. Most of the competition will be played in Paris and 8 towns of the Paris agglomeration. The French government estimates that as many as 10 million supporters will appear in Paris, for which safety must be taken care of. Already throughout France, the highest degree of terrorism hazard has been declared, which means a advanced hazard of bombing. All personnel are on advanced alert.
