‘National teams can bring their own security’

Hytiris remarks came a day after the government said foreign security details could come to Greece only as Olympic “tourists” whose watchdog roles would be made redundant by extensive domestic policing.

Security is a major priority for 2004 organisers and the government, which has budgeted a record $600 million to shield the first Summer Olympics held since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Hytiris said discussions are under way on whether to permit outside security members to carry firearms.