[Prometheus]

I have been secretly worried about this for a while now. I see a perfect storm of factors that make a riot very possible:

1) People are getting so amped-up about hockey, and the pressure on Team Canada to win the gold is building and building. The disappointment of a loss (or over-exuberance of a win) could push emotions over the top.

2) I have heard reports that the massive crowds out there are not always so family-friendly and benevolent, but at times somewhat rowdy, and alcohol and testosterone-influenced.

3) The probability that anti-olympics militants are planning to exploit these perfect conditions for violence.

4) Vancouver history.

I just hope that the authorities are not relying on the general good will and benevolence of the people, but are consciously developing specialized, well-thought out plans to stifle any potential flashpoints for a riot. Just having extra security on the street is not enough. (Having enough forces to crush a riot cannot be considered a success. If a riot gets going even for a brief moment, then the Vancouver Games will be remembered as a horrible failure, regardless of every good thing that occured.) They have to have special, counter-riot plans in place sufficient to stifle any possible flashpoints, thus stopping even the beginnings of a riot.

I think the key is to have an over-abundant number of specialized, undercover units moving among the crowds ready to pounce on any troublemakers. This must also be supplemented by ubiquitous surveillance which can pinpoint any developing trouble anywhere in the city and communicate the locations to forces on the ground.