Bin Laden, the world's most wanted men after he masterminded the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001, was killed following a shoot-out in a Abbottabad compound in Pakistan in a mission initiated by United States President Barack Obama.

But his death has led to fears that there will be a backlash of terrorist attacks targeted a major events such as the Olympics prompting fears that there could be a repeat of the massacre at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, when 11 Israeli athletes and officials and a German policeman were killed by the Islamic terrorist group Black September.

"The IOC position is very clear," said Rogge, who has been attending the 9th World Conference on Sport and the Environment. 

"Osama bin Laden is a political issue that I do not want to comment on.

"Since the Munich 1972 Games, security has been our number one priority.

"Security at the Games is the responsibility of the local authorities and we have no doubt that our current partners will be up to the task.

"That has always been the policy of the IOC and that will not change with what happened today."

Security at next year's London Olympics has always been a top issue for British organisers after a terror attack on the capital that came the day after London was awarded the Games in 2005 where home-grown suicide bombers attacked the city's transit network and killed 56 people, including the four bombers.

The Government has repeatedly said the national terror threat will remain at the "severe" level during the Olympics, just one notch below the most extreme level of "critical" and meaning an attack is highly likely.

The overall cost of security during the London 2012 Olympics is estimated at £720 million ($1.2 billion) while up to 9,000 police officers are expected to be on duty each day of the Olympics.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
December 2010: Government cuts will not affect security for London 2012 promises Home Secretary
December 2010: Security budget for London 2012 set to be cut by nearly a quarter
October 2010: Police will be "very, very stretched" during London 2012 Olympics
February 2010: London 2012 faces significant security threat warns Met Police Commissioner
November 2009: London Olympics is greatest threat to national security since World War 2 warns Minister