UK - OLYMPICS 2012: LOCOG chair Seb Coe says London will deliver a 'safe and secure' Games despite security shortfall.

Record ID: 331045

  • Title: UK - OLYMPICS 2012: LOCOG chair Seb Coe says London will deliver a 'safe and secure' Games despite security shortfall.
  • Date: 14th July 2012
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 13, 2012) (REUTERS) OLYMPIC PARK VARIOUS OF SEB COE, LOCOG (LONDON ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES) CHAIRMAN, TALKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SEB COE, LOCOG CHAIRMAN, SAYING: "Well security, like large parts of the project, tends to come at the end - the full complexity of the project tends to become apparent towards the end, you know, it's when you start locking down your venues, locking down the Olympic Park. You know in simple terms it's when the rubber hits the road. And clearly we identified a problem - you know G4S openly said that they were struggling with recruitment and retainment and I'm pleased we made a prudent and judicious and actually a very quick decision and now it's about making sure we continue with the right mix to deliver a safe and secure Games." POOL IN OLYMPIC WATER POLO VENUE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SEB COE, LOCOG CHAIRMAN, SAYING: "These are an Olympic Games - they are the largest global peacetime event, it's the largest event London is going to stage certainly in my lifetime - there's no appetite for risk. But do remember London stages global events all the time, often at the same time and we do it with the right balance and we'll do it with the right balance in the next couple of weeks." VARIOUS MORE OF COE TALKING TO REPORTERS
  • Embargoed: 29th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Defence / Military,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVADSXE2350Z6FBI2MAABGCYSZ93
  • Story Text: LOCOG chief Seb Coe promised a 'safe and secure' Olympics on Friday (July 13) despite an embarrassing last-minute security shortfall.
    Britain's government said on Thursday (July 12) it would put thousands of extra troops on standby for Olympic security, because private contracted G4S said it might not be able to supply enough security guards.
    But Coe said the blunder, just two weeks before the London Games begin, would not affect their smooth running.
    "Well security, like large parts of the project, tends to come at the end - the full complexity of the project tends to become apparent towards the end, you know, it's when you start locking down your venues, locking down the Olympic Park. You know in simple terms it's when the rubber hits the road. And clearly we identified a problem - you know G4S openly said that they were struggling with recruitment and retainment and I'm pleased we made a prudent and judicious and actually a very quick decision and now it's about making sure we continue with the right mix to deliver a safe and secure Games."
    The government faces an awkward balancing act in trying to guarantee security at the Games, which could provide an invitingly high-profile target for Islamic militants and others, while not letting its precautions become so intrusive that they spoil the atmosphere of the Games.
    Coe said their was no 'appetite for risk' when it came to Games security, but London would not seem like a city under siege.
    "These are an Olympic Games - they are the largest global peacetime event, its the largest event London is going to stage certainly in my lifetime - there's no appetite for risk. But do remember London stages global events all the time, often at the same time and we do it with the right balance and we'll do it with the right balance in the next couple of weeks," he said.
    About 23,700 security guards were due to protect venues as part of Britain's biggest peacetime security operation, and 13,500 military personnel had already been earmarked to contribute to this.
    On Wednesday, the government put an extra 3,500 soldiers on standby after the private security firm G4S said it might not be able to supply the 10,400 security guards it had contracted to provide.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Video restrictions: parts of this video may require additional clearances. Please see ‘Business Notes’ for more information.
Register