Britain calls up more troops for the Games
Source: Agencies |
July 25, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
The British government yesterday deployed 1,200 more troops to protect Olympic venues - a move that reflects a lack of confidence that private security contractor G4S can deliver all it promised for the Games.
The decision, just days before Friday's opening ceremony, means that some 18,200 UK military personnel will now be involved in some capacity in securing the London Games - dwarfing the 9,500 British troops now serving in Afghanistan. The decision followed a Cabinet meeting on venue security.
"On the eve of the largest peacetime event ever staged in this country, ministers are clear that we should leave nothing to chance," Olympics Secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a statement. "The government continues to have every confidence that we will deliver a safe and secure Games."
The government put the troops on standby a few days ago, but suggested then that it was merely a prudent contingency measure unlikely to be used.
Yesterday's announcement is yet another embarrassment for security provider G4S, which has consistently failed to deliver on its Olympic contract.
Thousands of British soldiers have been sent in at short notice to fill in as guards.
Some servicemen have seen their leave cancelled while others have only recently returned from tours in Afghanistan.
The chief executive of G4S, Nick Buckles, has acknowledged that his company's failure to hire enough Olympic security guards had embarrassed the nation. He made a groveling apology last week when he was questioned by angry British politicians who suggested that "sorry" wasn't enough.
"It was a big disappointment," said Paul Deighton, chief executive officer of the London organizing committee. "We signed a contract with the biggest security company in the world, whose biggest customer is the UK government.
"They continually assured us that they had both the capability to deliver."
Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to "go after" G4S if they don't fulfill their contract to make sure the company helps pay for the cost of the additional military personnel.
Big Ben to ring out
London's Big Ben will ring for three minutes to celebrate the first day of the Olympic Games on Friday, the first time it has rung outside its regular hours since the funeral of King George VI in 1952.
Thousands of bells across Britain, from Shetland, north of the Scottish mainland, to the UK's most westerly church in Cornwall, will join in.
Parliament granted permission for Big Ben to toll outside its regular schedule. Bells at the Welsh National Assembly, Northern Ireland's Stormont and the Scottish Parliament will also ring out.
North Korea TV talks
The chief of Asia's broadcasting union is in North Korea for talks on providing the country with TV and radio coverage of the London Olympics.
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union President Kim In-kyu arrived in Pyongyang yesterday on a three-day trip.
Kim is a South Korean national and also serves as head of South Korean public broadcaster KBS.
An ABU official said earlier this month that his agency was expected to provide North Korea's state broadcaster with coverage of the Olympic Games coverage for a "nominal" fee.
China flag 'surprise'
China's flag-bearer at the Olympics opening ceremony will be "tall, handsome and famous," a sports official said yesterday.
"You will get a pleasant surprise when the name of the flag-bearer is announced soon," Xiao Tian, deputy chef de mission of the Chinese Olympic delegation, said in Beijing.
Among the possibilities are basketball star Yi Jianlian, 2011 French Open tennis champion Li Na, 2004 Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang, Olympic badminton champion Lin Dan and world champion swimmer Sun Yang.
The decision, just days before Friday's opening ceremony, means that some 18,200 UK military personnel will now be involved in some capacity in securing the London Games - dwarfing the 9,500 British troops now serving in Afghanistan. The decision followed a Cabinet meeting on venue security.
"On the eve of the largest peacetime event ever staged in this country, ministers are clear that we should leave nothing to chance," Olympics Secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a statement. "The government continues to have every confidence that we will deliver a safe and secure Games."
The government put the troops on standby a few days ago, but suggested then that it was merely a prudent contingency measure unlikely to be used.
Yesterday's announcement is yet another embarrassment for security provider G4S, which has consistently failed to deliver on its Olympic contract.
Thousands of British soldiers have been sent in at short notice to fill in as guards.
Some servicemen have seen their leave cancelled while others have only recently returned from tours in Afghanistan.
The chief executive of G4S, Nick Buckles, has acknowledged that his company's failure to hire enough Olympic security guards had embarrassed the nation. He made a groveling apology last week when he was questioned by angry British politicians who suggested that "sorry" wasn't enough.
"It was a big disappointment," said Paul Deighton, chief executive officer of the London organizing committee. "We signed a contract with the biggest security company in the world, whose biggest customer is the UK government.
"They continually assured us that they had both the capability to deliver."
Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to "go after" G4S if they don't fulfill their contract to make sure the company helps pay for the cost of the additional military personnel.
Big Ben to ring out
London's Big Ben will ring for three minutes to celebrate the first day of the Olympic Games on Friday, the first time it has rung outside its regular hours since the funeral of King George VI in 1952.
Thousands of bells across Britain, from Shetland, north of the Scottish mainland, to the UK's most westerly church in Cornwall, will join in.
Parliament granted permission for Big Ben to toll outside its regular schedule. Bells at the Welsh National Assembly, Northern Ireland's Stormont and the Scottish Parliament will also ring out.
North Korea TV talks
The chief of Asia's broadcasting union is in North Korea for talks on providing the country with TV and radio coverage of the London Olympics.
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union President Kim In-kyu arrived in Pyongyang yesterday on a three-day trip.
Kim is a South Korean national and also serves as head of South Korean public broadcaster KBS.
An ABU official said earlier this month that his agency was expected to provide North Korea's state broadcaster with coverage of the Olympic Games coverage for a "nominal" fee.
China flag 'surprise'
China's flag-bearer at the Olympics opening ceremony will be "tall, handsome and famous," a sports official said yesterday.
"You will get a pleasant surprise when the name of the flag-bearer is announced soon," Xiao Tian, deputy chef de mission of the Chinese Olympic delegation, said in Beijing.
Among the possibilities are basketball star Yi Jianlian, 2011 French Open tennis champion Li Na, 2004 Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang, Olympic badminton champion Lin Dan and world champion swimmer Sun Yang.
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