Costa cops more flak over Ryan job: [1 Edition]
John Stapleton, Natasha Bita. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 29 Apr 2002: 3.
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Abstract
Mr [Peter Ryan]’s appointment is understood to have met with some opposition from Greek police. The Greek government, acting partly on Mr Ryan’s advice, recently passed legislation to centralise the command of its security forces in the lead-up to the Games.
An IOC vice president, Australian Kevan Gosper, said he believed Mr Ryan would do a good job. He had the highest regard for Mr Ryan’s work on the Sydney Olympics.
Full Text
THE appointment of former NSW police commissioner Peter Ryan as security chief for the Athens Olympics has renewed the controversy over his departure.
Mr Ryan’s six years at the helm of the NSW police ended on April 17 with a $455,000 payout. The size of the payout and the circumstances of his departure have been a headache for the NSW Government.
A spokesman for NSW Police Minister Michael Costa said yesterday they had been unaware of any final job offers made to Mr Ryan, although there had obviously been speculation.
“It is a matter for him,” the spokesman said. “Mr Ryan said at the time of his departure that he was open to offers. We wish the former commissioner well.”
Opposition police spokesman Andrew Tink called on Premier Bob Carr and Mr Costa to reveal what they knew of the negotiations between Mr Ryan and Olympic organisers.
“Mr Costa started out by saying that Mr Ryan resigned, and then that he had been terminated. They must indicate what they knew about his job negotiations. It may shed some light.”
The International Olympic Committee lured Mr Ryan to advise on security at the recent Winter Games in Salt Lake City and for the Athens Games after thepolice commissioner delivered watertight security at the 2000 Games in Sydney.
He flew to Athens early this month for a three-day audit of Greece’s $1.3 million security plan.
Mr Ryan’s appointment is understood to have met with some opposition from Greek police. The Greek government, acting partly on Mr Ryan’s advice, recently passed legislation to centralise the command of its security forces in the lead-up to the Games.
An IOC vice president, Australian Kevan Gosper, said he believed Mr Ryan would do a good job. He had the highest regard for Mr Ryan’s work on the Sydney Olympics.