Fears of security breaches and terrorist attacks at Sochi are rampant, but one American lawmaker believes U.S. athletes will have no worries at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Rep. William Keating, D-Mass., returned from a trip to the Black Sea resort city and told media members his impressions of Russian security. However, he says while the Games themselves are under a tight clamp but areas outside the venues and athletes village are worrisome.
"These terrorists can move it out from areas that are less secure, and make a statement there," Keating said, according to The Boston Globe.
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Keating said Russia has about 100,000 security personnel assigned to the Sochi Games.
Female suicide bombers are among Russians' concern. Three so-called "Black Widow" terrorists have been identified, with one believed to be in Sochi ahead of the Games, which begin Feb. 6.
Rebels in Chechnya are wreaking havoc, and at least one terrorist group has warned of attacks during the two-plus weeks of Olympic competition.
As expected, Russian officials aren't sharing much with the U.S.
"We're willing to do everything we can," Keating said, "but it's their country. When you do it with the U.S. and Russia there's room for improvement."
Athletes are worried. Zach Parise is one of two Minnesota Wild players who will compete with Team USA. He gave his thoughts to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Parise has told his family not to go to Sochi. Teammate Ryan Suter also decided against have his famly make the trip.
"I'm actually really concerned about it," Parise wrote in an e-mail to the newspaper. "I know they say they have evacuation stuff for us and all, but you just never know. I guess you have to wonder at what point does someone say it isn't a good idea for us to go."
Meanwhile, USA Today posted results of a Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday. Its results: 38 percent of Americans believe "somewhat likely" a terrorist attack will disrupt the Olympics; 12 percent see that possibility as "very likely."
John and Diana Herman of Bloomington, Minn., told the Star-Tribune they will go to Sochi to watch there daughter compete. Keri Herman, a slopestyle freeskier for the U.S. Olympic team, is in her first Olympics.
Hard as it might be, John Herman says he is putting trust in Russian president Vladimir Putin's word on security.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list event," Herman said. "It's incredibly special because our daughter will be competing and representing the United States … We're doing everything that we can to be thoughtful when we travel and be careful."
While al-Qaeda terrorists are foremost on Americans' thoughts, it's wise to remember other extremists, separatists and anarchists are at work in Russia. Chechnya remains a flashpoint.
"With all the terrorist activity that has been the case in one of the most dangerous parts of the world, security measures are enormous, too," Keating said.
Keating and other U.S. lawmakers were in Sochi on a junket with the House Homeland Security Committee. He said the Russian forces include 40,000 police, 30,000 military personnel, drones and six anti-missile systems.