Greece Deploys Patriot Missiles To Safeguard Athens Olympics

ATHENS, July 27 (AFP) - Greece has placed six anti-aircraft Patriot missile ranges in a military airport here to enforce a shoot-down policy against rogue planes entering the Greek capital's airspace during the August 13-29 Olympics.
"The missiles were progressively installed after July 1," Greek Air Force spokesman Constantinos Prionas told AFP.
The US-made missiles are part of Greece's security measures to ward off aerial threats against the Games. Similar action was taken in the 1996 Atlanta summer Olympics and the 2002 Salt Lake City winter Games.
The Tatoi airfield, where the ranges are deployed, is the only one within the greater Athens area and is located close to the Olympic athletes' village.
Anti-aircraft missiles of different types are also deployed in another four Greek cities hosting qualifiers of the Olympic football tournament.
Russian-made S 300 anti-aircraft missiles are protecting the city of Heraklion on the southern island of Crete, Prionas said.