Biometric ID cards in use at Winter Olympics

 

Germany’s “Haus” at the Winter Olympics in Turin later this month is to be protected using an ID card-based biometric accreditation system. The system is designed to enhance the security of the Deutsches Haus, which is a meeting point for Germany’s athletes, officials, politicians, journalists and business partners.

According to Bundesdruckerei, the supplier of the system, anyone wishing to enter must first be accredited before they can receive their biometric ID card. This process involves a photograph to be taken of the visitor and authentication via an ID card or passport.

The photo and personal data are then printed onto the PVC card. Visitors also have to give fingerprints which are stored in a database for the duration of the Games.

From that point onwards, each time visitors want to enter the Deutsches Haus, they must have their cards read in a verification station at the entrance and have their live fingerprints taken. The live data is compared with the data stored. If they match, the visitor is admitted.

Bundesdruckerei already provided a similar system at the Deutsches Haus during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. This time, however, the system requirements are more complex, because Deutsche Sport Marketing requires that visitors now have their cards read each time they enter or leave the area. This enables the authorities to say how many individuals are present in the Haus and who these individuals are – particularly important if an emergency situation arises.

Bundesdruckerei also claims that the enrolment process will be more user-friendly, avoiding the chances of long queues building up.