Map of Summer Olympics locations. Countries that have hosted one Summer Olympics are shaded green, while countries that have hosted two or more are shaded blue. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In an earlier post I speculated that there might be Trouble Ahead as a result of the 11th hour pre-Olympic security staffing problem.
It turns out the long term impact of the problem is being quantified by the key players.
For the armed services – drafted in at the last minute to help ensure the Games were successful – there will be knock-on effects for many months to come.
As Wing Commander Peter Daulby, military Chief Planner, commented to the Guardian:
“It will take two years to recover from [Olympic deployment], to get back to normal, to get everything back into kilter. You can’t expect [personnel deployed] to go back to normal routine very easily”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/aug/13/army-olympic-games-recovery-two-years
For the original security contractor – G4S – the impact of achieving a reported 83% deployment of their original staffing goal will be financial. The Guardian reports a 60% fall in half year profits and reputational knock in the longer term.
As their Chief Executive, Nick Buckles, said in a recent interview:
“…his appearance before the home affairs select committee shortly before the Games, where he was forced to admit that the Olympics process had been a “shambles”, was difficult but necessary”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/aug/28/g4s-50m-hit-olympics-contract
Although the Games themselves were rightly praised as a major success, the secuirty contractor’s experience seems to illustrates the principle that; ordinary efforts probably could not have produced the extraordinary planning outcome the Olympics call for.
Related articles
- Athletes praise Games as best ever (standard.co.uk)
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