American athletes set to participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi have been warned not to wear Team USA apparel outside of official venues, the Wall Street Journal reports. The warning came via a memo that reflected the United States’ concern about security in Russia.
United States athletes warned not to wear Team USA gear outside Olympic venues
Amid security concerns, United States athletes were advised not to wear their colors too prominently outside of competition venues in Sochi.
Mike Stobe
An excerpt of the memo, via WSJ.com:
“The U.S. Department of State has advised that wearing conspicuous Team USA clothing in non-accredited areas may put your personal safety at greater risk.”
The memo also encourage athletes to enroll in a State Department-run traveler program while in Sochi.
The United States has taken actions to help ensure the safety of Americans in Russia for the Olympics in response to threats of terrorist attacks on the games made by Islamist militants in the region. On Thursday, it was reported that the Pentagon will be stationing two Navy warships in the Black Sea that will be ready to assist in case of an incident. Military officials said that the ships could be used to evacuate Americans.
Russia has not requested any additional help to secure the games. There have already reportedly been security breaches, however. Russian security services may be looking for several “black widow” suicide bombers who are attempting to disrupt the games and have already slipped past security measures.
More on the Winter Olympics coverage:
Hockey: Men’s schedule | All 12 men’s rosters | USA roster analysis
See More:
