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Officials Say Super Bowl As Safe As Possible VOA News 4 Feb 2002 01:06 UTC 
Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge says more than 5,000 military and security personnel are on hand for the Superbowl currently underway in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Mr. Ridge says the sporting contest that climaxes the U.S. professional football season is as safe as possible against terrorist attacks.
He says authorities are using new technology and have established a "no fly zone" around the New Orleans Superdome where 80,000 people are watching the Saint Louis Rams and New England Patriots play. An estimated 800 million people around the world will watch the game on television. At half-time the New England Patriots were leading the Rams by a score of 14-3.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ridge also says security will be at an all time high at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. The games begin Friday and he said dozens of agencies and thousands of people equipped with the latest technology will be on hand to guard against terrorist attack.
Mr. Ridge says he believes Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network still has cells in the United States. He said U.S. authorities must not only control the entry of foreigners coming to America but should monitor their activities after they are here.
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