1,200 Troops Drafted in for Olympics Security

Ministers took the decision on Tuesday morning at a Cabinet Committee for the Olympics chaired by Prime Minister David Cameron. The 1, medical 200 troops to be called up were placed on standby last week.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “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.”

Hunt added: “On the eve of the largest peacetime event ever staged in this country, ministers are clear that we should leave nothing to chance. The Government continues to have every confidence that we will deliver a safe and secure Games.”

Locog chief executive 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.”

However, he added that it was not a sign of private firm G4S having any further problems supplying staff.

The extra troops come on top of the additional 3,500 drafted in a fortnight ago as the recruitment gap by G4S emerged.

Mr Hunt said that, with three days to go until the opening ceremony, London 2012 was “very much on track”.

“Opening ceremony rehearsals have started and over 4,000 athletes have arrived in London and their response to the Village and the venues has been hugely positive,” he said.