| The U.S. soccer team is under heavy security | | | | was held by the organizing committee that |
| at the World Cup in Germany. Nowhere is that | | | | displayed all 32 buses and our bus, sans |
| more apparent than at its training base in | | | | [without] flag, thus nullifying any security |
| Hamburg. | | | | effects that that decision might have had. So |
| | | | that was an error on their part and were not |
| Ever since arriving in Germany for the FIFA | | | | afraid to say that." |
| World Cup, footballs biggest tournament that | | | | |
| is held every four years, the U.S. soccer | | | | Theres no doubt people know what the blue |
| team has been well protected. | | | | U.S. team bus looks like as it makes its way |
| | | | on different routes from the hotel to the |
| Team spokesman Jim Moorhouse told VOA Sports | | | | Americans training ground at the Hamburg SV |
| that a lot of planning went into security | | | | football club in the suburbs. It has a huge |
| measures for the players, their families and | | | | police motorcade with wailing sirens and a |
| U.S. Soccer Federation officials. | | | | usually a helicopter overhead. |
| | | | |
| "For a little more than a year weve been | | | | Police spokesman Ralf Meyer told VOA Sports |
| working very closely with the State | | | | that the local residents are now accepting of |
| Department, as well as FIFA [football's world | | | | the occasional inconveniences when the U.S. |
| governing body] and the local organizing | | | | team is traveling through their |
| committee, as well as the Hamburg police to | | | | neighborhoods. |
| make sure all the parameters were in place," | | | | |
| said Jim Moorhouse. "And we feel like | | | | "We have no problems anymore," said Ralf |
| everythings been covered very well." | | | | Meyer. "Were there. We've talked to them. We |
| | | | tried to clear [make them understand] |
| Of the groups assigned to security detail for | | | | everything, and now we have a situation that |
| the U.S. team, the most visible are the | | | | everything is all right, and we have no |
| Hamburg police. Police spokesman Ralf Mayer | | | | critics from there. And I think we have a |
| says all 10,000 members of the force are | | | | good concept. And the people are involved. |
| involved at one time or another. On games | | | | They understand what we do because of the |
| days, 2,900 police are on duty in Hamburg. He | | | | history of 9/11, and I think everything is |
| says typically 100 are assigned to the U.S. | | | | okay." |
| soccer teams hotel in the downtown area near | | | | |
| the main train station, as well as a SWAT | | | | U.S. soccer team coach Bruce Arena says they |
| team. The street in front of the luxury hotel | | | | are accustomed to the tight security. |
| is barricaded and has very limited access. | | | | |
| | | | "Security doesnt bother us," he said. "In |
| For security reasons, the U.S. team is the | | | | fact, I think it makes us comfortable." |
| only one of the 32 at the World Cup traveling | | | | |
| in an unmarked bus. But Moorhouse said it did | | | | And team spokesman Jim Moorhouse says |
| not turn out to be much of a secret. | | | | security is a way of life for all teams at |
| | | | such a high profile event. |
| "Its a little bit of an interesting story | | | | |
| because thats a decision that was made well | | | | "We are at the World Cup, and its not only |
| over a year ago with the State Department," | | | | the biggest sporting event in the world, its |
| he said. "And at the time, the question | | | | the biggest event in the world, so theres |
| arose, would that be a safer thing to do. It | | | | security everywhere," he said. "Its not just |
| probably was. We made that decision. Of | | | | on the U.S. team but it seems to be where |
| course, unbeknownst to us, a press conference | | | | everyone is focused. |