The V2010 Integrated Security Unit (ISU) has received a number of media enquiries around today’s cancellation of the media opportunity and its possible impact on Exercise Gold.

The V2010 ISU would like to advise that despite a slight delay and relocation, the limited functional aspects of the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive (CBRNE) exercise event did occur.

It is extremely important to remember that the event impacted was an exercise opportunity. The expectations and conditions to hold such events are not reflective of the real operational requirements that will be present to deliver an integrated response to an emergency situation during the 2010 Winter Games. These events are simulated situations only.

Today’s CBRNE event was one of hundreds of incident that over 140 agencies from across Canada have been exercising throughout this week and over the past two years. It is important to understand this event was an exercise and as such there was no need to weigh in and take a position on an ongoing labour dispute. It must be understood that exercises give us the opportunity to test and confirm our collective practices and procedures in a safe and secure environment. Therefore it was decided to delay the start of the event and then move the site to an alternate location to prevent any perception of support or opposition to the ongoing labour dispute.

The event, once reset and launched, was able to meet all integrated objectives and has provided all partners with a valuable opportunity to collectively confirm emergency preparedness, response and management.

We are confident that at the completion of Exercise Gold, the participant’s experience and feedback will once again help us move forward in achieving our mandate to provide a safe and secure the 2010 Winter Games.