Security and transport are London hurdles

27 Oct 2011, 11:49 am   -   Source: AAP
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The London Olympics will run from July 27 to August 12, with athletes competing in 26 sports. (AAP)

The London Olympics will run from July 27 to August 12, with athletes competing in 26 sports. (AAP)

Security and transport are the biggest hurdles facing the London Olympic organisers with the main threats coming outside the Olympic venues.

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Australian athletes celebrating after competing at the London 2012 Olympics will face the biggest security risks, especially if they use public transport to get around the city.

That is the view of Australian Olympic Committee media director Mike Tancred after attending a three-day briefing from the London Organising Committee on next July's Games.

Tancred said security and transport were the biggest hurdles facing Olympic officials, as shown by this year's London riots.

"Security is the number one issue," he said after the briefing for about 500 Olympic experts.

"There will be 120,000 police on the beat in London on any given day during the Games.

"But during the London riots they were slow off the mark. They were caught by surprise.

"You can't have a repeat of that when you have to protect the venues and spectators."

Tancred said the real threat will be outside the venues and on public transport like the underground.

"Security for the athletes on the tube will be an issue," he said.

"Especially when the athletes have finished competing and they are on down time and out celebrating, which they are entitled to do."

Tancred also said transport in general would be a major challenge for Olympic organisers.

"London is a tough transport city on any given day but moving spectators around this town during the Olympics will be a major problem," he said.

"The organisers are telling us that the rail link from Kings Cross/St Pancras to (the Olympic Park at) Stratford will take seven minutes but how long will it take to get on and get off? That is the question."

Otherwise Tancred was impressed with Olympic preparations, praising the athletes' village and competition venues.

"I never thought I'd see venues like the Watercube and Bird's Nest main stadium that were Beijing's iconic venues at the 2008 Games," he said.

"But London's pool is sensational, especially inside where it is cool and crisp visually, and the architecture at the main stadium looks great."

Australian International Olympic Committee member and press commission chief Kevan Gosper told the briefing that it will be hard to beat a Games in London from the visual perspective.

"The backdrop of London will be stunning, when you consider that sports like archery will be held at Lord's and the tennis Wimbledon," he said.

The London Olympics will run from July 27 to August 12, with athletes competing in 26 sports chasing 302 gold medals.

Tancred said Australia hoped to finish in the top five on the London medal table after finishing sixth on the gold medal count at the 2008 Beijing Games.

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