The U.K. government said that a “further 1,200 military personnel are being deployed to help secure the 2012 Olympics in London following the failure by G4S to provide enough private security guards,” according to Booth & Hopkins of the GUARDIAN. The extra personnel, who were “put on standby last week, have been drafted” amid continuing fears that G4S’ handling of the US$441M contract “remains a risk to the Games" as the Opening Ceremony approaches. U.K. ministers “took the decision on Tuesday morning at a cabinet committee for the Olympics” chaired by Prime Minister David Cameron (GUARDIAN, 7/24). U.K. Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that the decision to bring in more guards "does not reflect on G4S's performance in recent days, which has improved." Hunt: "G4S numbers continue to rise significantly and we have every expectation that will continue to be the case. However, ministers decided that we should deploy the additional 1,200 troops that were put on standby last week" (BLOOMBERG, 7/24). LOCOG CEO Paul Deighton said, "The reason that this decision has been taken is just to absolutely de-risk any aspect of the operation. With three days to go, we just want to make sure this works without any worries at all." He added, "The plan is absolutely 100% in place -- we simply have soldiers doing work which otherwise would have been done by private security guards. Net outcome -- we're actually in a better position" (PA, 7/24). Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Chris Allison, who is coordinating “roughly 5,000 officers” at the Games, said, “I’m very satisfied that we’re in a very good place. We’ve done all the planning. We’ve looked at the way in which terrorists attacked in the past and we’ve tried to make sure that none of those could get through our security measures.” Allison said the threat level is at “significant,” the second-highest level. He added that police have “made 200 Olympic-related arrests so far, mainly over fraudulent tickets” (GLOBE & MAIL, 7/25).
UPPING THE ANTE: USA TODAY’s Gary Mihoces notes LOCOG officials “put a positive spin on the latest bolstering” of the troops. Britain now has “about 18,200 military personnel involved in some capacity in the Olympics” (USA TODAY, 7/25). In Boston, Shira Springer notes with the Opening Ceremony two days away, it is “hard to miss ramped-up security efforts and growing security concerns around the city” (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/25). In London, Tom Peck notes the “last-minute decision to use the troops came in a wave of final preparations, with worrying signs for those planning to attend events using public transport” (London INDEPENDENT, 7/25).
SO FAR, SO GOOD: BAA Airports Limited CEO Colin Matthews, whose company owns Heathrow and five other airports, said that Olympic arrivals had “so far gone well with none of the feared passport queues.” Matthews said since this past Sunday “the experience in the airport, including immigration, has been great.” Matthews: “One of the biggest successes of the last few weeks is that queues at Heathrow have been the dog that didn't bark” (GUARDIAN, 7/25). In London, Rosa Prince reports a “planned strike by Home Office staff including immigration officers in a row over jobs and pay has been called off after progress in peace talks” (London TELEGRAPH, 7/25).
TRAFFIC JAM, WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY LATE: In London, Massey & Parsons write under the header, “Gridlocked Games: London’s Motorists Caught In Huge Jams As All Olympic Lanes Come Into Force ... And It’s Not Much Better On The Tube.” Motorists are facing "widespread gridlock ... as drivers were excluded from 30 miles of controversial reserved VIP ‘Games Lanes’ in the capital." Drivers are being threatened with a US$201 fine “if they go into them.” Games Lanes “came into force across London, causing inevitable traffic chaos on already busy road networks, as well as delays on the London Underground as those trying to escape queues opted for public transport” (London DAILY MAIL, 7/25). The AP’s Gerald Imray reports long lines formed yesterday and “travelers were delayed at St. Pancras, the central London rail station where reporters, Olympic workers and fans with tickets depart for the Olympic Park in east London.” Officials hours later acknowledged that delays “up to an hour were continuing Tuesday night, blaming signal problems.” Days before the Olympics officially begin, London's “extensive subway and train system is facing a major test with officials expecting up to 3 million more journeys a day during the games” (AP, 7/25). In Newark, Dave D’Alessandro noted he “took a lap around the Central Line” when he arrived in London yesterday and “lived to tell about it.” He advised to “stay out of the underground when you get here, if you have a choice” (NJ.com, 7/24).
GRINDING THROUGH THE GRIDLOCK: The GUARDIAN’s Gwyn Topham notes U.K. transport authorities reported a “smooth start to the operation of controversial road changes for the Olympics this morning -- but independent analysts reported congestion even before most Games lanes were switched on, and further problems on the tube and train services heightened concerns about the capital's ability to cope” (GUARDIAN, 7/25). In London, David Millward wrote the “feared gridlock when the Olympics Games Lanes came into force has failed to materialise” (London TELEGRAPH, 7/25). Trafficmaster Head of U.K. Networks Mick Savage said, “All the in-roads in to London are really busy and of course London is a nightmare because no one knows what they are doing” (THETIMES.co.uk, 7/25). The AP’s Sylvia Hui writes, “Bafflement and long waits reigned on London’s roads this week.” There were “traffic backups in some parts of central London early Wednesday as commuters coped with the new restrictions, and there were signs that many motorists had switched to public transport to avoid the hassle.” Even if it all “goes smoothly -- a big if -- the 30 miles of Olympics-only road lanes are likely to remain deeply unpopular among Britons.” Critics argue that the lanes open only to Olympic athletes, officials, journalists, emergency services and games marketing partners are “elitist and make life difficult for everyone else” (AP, 7/25).
LAND OF CONFUSION: In London, Ashling O’Connor writes the Games Lanes have caused “confusion and frustration among motorists.” LOCOG Chair Sebastian Coe said, “I’m expecting challenges simply because of the bloody nature of this town. It’s not easy. The vast majority of Londoners I speak to think this is going to be an extraordinary two weeks of their lives and there will be challenges for those wanting to maintain their orderly daily patterns. Yes it’s going to be busy, yes there will be traffic challenges and yes they have to go to things a little earlier than normal” (LONDON TIMES, 7/25). The FINANCIAL TIMES’ Blitz & Kortekaas note transport and security shortcomings “continue to tax organisers in the run-up” to Friday’s Opening Ceremony. IOC Olympic Games Exec Dir Gilbert Felli said that London “was ‘one of the most difficult cities in the world’ to host an Olympics, because of its narrow streets.” Felli said, “We all cross our fingers. It’s not going to be easy.” He said LOCOG execs had “done what they had to do.” Felli: “Now we need to make sure we have a bit of luck” (FINANCIAL TIMES, 7/25).
