NORAD fighter jets have been training over Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The 2010 Olympic Integrated Exercise Program was designed to confirm that all levels of government, including the bi-national NORAD organization, can respond to emergencies during the Games. The Vancouver Sun reports that the "training is designed to hone NORAD's intercept and identification operations, and is part of NORAD's training to support the RCMP-led security operations for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games". NORAD is to be a key player in Games security and air protection.

Given that the games are taking place just 50 kilometres away from the U.S. border, Canadian and American security efforts will converge in the area in the coming months. The U.S. federal government has set up a high-security co-ordination centre for the Games near the Bellingham, WA, airport. Additionally, the Washington Olympic Security Committee is collaborating with the British Columbia housed Integrated Security Unit and they have also conducted joint training exercises.

Border security, on both sides, is also being tightened. Federal Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day has vowed to resolve border issues and promised that there will be no lengthy border line-ups. But provincial officials are worried that heightened border security will discourage trade and tourism.

More recently, and due to the new and tighter airport screening rules now in place in response to the Christmas terrorism scare in Detroit, visitors flying back into the United States have been faced with longer lines and more precautionary security personnel. The Vancouver Sun reports that an additional 231,000 passengers, including 12,500 media, 6,850 athletes and 34,000 corporate sponsors are expected to travel through Vancouver during the Olympic and Paralymic Games.

On Tuesday January 5, Minister of Transportation, John Baird, announced that Vancouver Airport would be one of the select international airports across the country to receive controversial body scanners as an added security precaution. Vancouver airport officials, however, do not expect these to have a large impact on their Olympic security plans.

Related:

• Experts: Borders, Security and Trade
• Library: A New Bridge for Old Allies
• Government Perspective: The Canada First Defense Strategy: One Year Later
• Past Event/Webcast: 2010 Olympics: Border Challenges and Regional Solutions, Woodrow Wilson Center
• In the Spotlight: Holiday Scare Forces Re-Analysis of Continental Security Policy

(Image Credit: Flickr user sabley)