Since the UK bid was successfully chosen, it was the beginning of the UK’s largest security test. The Olympic village opens on the 13th July and finishes when the Paralympics village closes in September.
The London Olympic Stadium situated at Marshgate Lane, Stratford will be the centre of both the Olympics and the Paralympics. The stadium capacity is 80,000 making it the largest stadium in the UK behind both Wembley and Twickenham Stadium.
There are many existing venues that have been utlisied for the Games, which include Earls Court, Excel Centre, Lords Cricket Ground, The O2 Arena, Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, Wembley Stadium and Wimbledon all England Club.
Both the Olympic and Paralympics Games will see 14,700 athletes from 205 countries who will be competing in London and the UK.
During the Games events such as Wimbledon, Notting Hill Carnival and the Queens Diamond Jubilee will also be taking place further stretching security requirements.
London will become the first city to officially host the modern Olympic games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and 1948.
The Ministry Of Defence (MOD) announced last month that 13500 military personnel would be on duty during the Games to support 10,000 police who will lead on the security of the Games.
It has been estimated that around 5000 troops will support the police, with up to 7500 providing venue security. Around 25,000 security staff will be employed during the games to ensure all attending enjoys successful safe event.
Further to the countries bid to demonstrate force the Royal Marines 539 Assault Squadron and Metropolitan Police took part in a joint exercise called Operation Woolwich Arsenal Pier on the 19th January.
The two teams presented a show of strength and force on the River Thames as part of a security exercise in preparation for the Olympics. 539 Assault Squadron will provide waterborne assistance on the Thames during the games.
The operation was designed to establish that the UK is fully poised against a potential terrorist attack.
Typhoon jets and HMS Ocean, the largest ship in the Royal Navy’s fleet, will eventually be deployed to safeguard the Games. There have been further reports that euro fighter jets and surface to air missiles will also be deployed as part of the Olympics security operation.
It is thought that the servicemen and women would cover and protect 150 venues and training sites throughout the UK.
The actual costs for hosting the Games is reported to be in the region of £2 billion, funded in a combination of sponsorship, merchandising, ticketing and broadcasting rights.
The cost of security has also increased from £282m to £553m making it the biggest security operation Britain has faced for decades.
More than 380,000 athletes, officials, workers and media have already started to have rigorous checks on their backgrounds. This process is being undertaken by the Home Office and includes immigration, criminal record and security checks. This is all to help ensure the security of the Games. Any individual could be refused if they present any safety of security risk.
Approximately eight million tickets will be sold for the Olympic games with another 2 million for the Paralympics Games.
G4S (formerly Group 4 Securicor) was appointed official provider of security for the Games. They launch their recruitment centre this week to start searching for thousands of people to employ to assist securing the Olympic venues.
Many private security companies will provide VIP Close Protection for high profile guests and celebrities with Police Royalty Protection officers looking after members of the Royal Family.
President Barrack Obama will be attending with his cavalcade of secret service agents and his distinct bulletproof limousine.
