Organisers cut short London’s opening show

Concerns over traffic congestion forced late move.


Afp July 18, 2012

LONDON: The organisers of the London Olympics scrapped part of the opening ceremony due to fears that an overrunning show would cause bottlenecks on public transport.

Organisers of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) said a sequence involving stunt bikes had been cut to ensure that the spectacle finishes on time.

“We need to make sure the show comes in on time and spectators can get home on public transport,” said a Locog spokesperson. “We’ve decided to cut a small stunt bike sequence of the show.”

He added that the £27 million ceremony at the Olympic Stadium was due to finish between midnight and 12:30 am local time.

2,000 more troops put on standby

Meanwhile, the hosts have drawn up contingency plans to deploy another 2,000 troops for the event after a private security firm said it could not provide enough guards, said Sports Minister Hugh Robertson.

The official said that the government would ensure security giant G4S would foot the bill for any further use of service personnel to guard the Games, which start on July 27. The government announced last week that it was deploying another 3,500 troops after G4S said it could not fulfil its contract to supply 10,500 private security guards for Olympic venues.

“Contingency plans are being drawn up for 2,000 more soldiers,” Robertson told a press conference in central London. “We are clear we are not going to spend a penny more of taxpayers’ money on security. We are working now to activate the penalty clauses in the contract with G4S.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2012.

COMMENTS (1)

Gregory Stinton | 11 years ago | Reply

another sad day to be english, and again a laughing stock for the world. jobs worths are ruining this country

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