Britain deploys 1,200 more troops for Olympics

An additional 1,200 soldiers were drafted in to deal with the G4S security staff shortfall at the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Reuters)

Britain’s government opted Tuesday to deploy 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 fresh troops come only three days before Friday’s opening ceremony and mean that some 18,200 U.K. military personnel are now involved in some capacity in securing the London games - dwarfing the 9,500 British troops now 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 that was merely a prudent contingency measure that was unlikely to be used. Tuesday’s announcement is yet another embarrassment for security provider G4S, which has consistently failed to deliver on its Olympic contract.

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