Germans use biometrics at Olympics

At least 4,500 athletes, officials and press are expected to register over the two-week period for the games.

"Biometric verification systems have been making steady progress for several years and are being used increasingly not only for government applications such as border controls, but also at large-scale events," said Michael Schaub, managing director of Bundesdruckerei International Services, a firm that worked on  the project.

Officials have spent €650 million on security at the Olympics this year.

The German camp is the only village at the games that is using biometrics, an NEC spokesman said.

Bundesdruckerei International Services and Japanese firm NEC are supplying the technology.

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