2012 Olympic Games Military Support
by Baron Halpenny, LincsMag Editor.
Date: 01 January 2012
As the Olympic Games draws closer, the extent to which Britain’s Armed Forces will support the security effort for next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in London was announced in 2011 by the Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond MP.
It is still made clear that the safety and security operation for the Games will remain a Police operation, but the Ministry of Defence will make a significant contribution by providing a range of support to the civilian authorities.
The MoD contribution to the Olympics security will include specialist capabilities, which only the military have the ability and experience to provide, as well as some more general support. In total, the MoD expects to provide up to 13,500 personnel, comprising:
• 5,000 personnel in support of the police and other civil authorities, with specialist capabilities including explosive ordnance disposal teams, military working dogs and Royal Navy support to maritime policing, as well as a 1,000-strong unarmed contingency force for deployment in the event of an Olympics-related civil emergency;
• 1,000 personnel to provide logistics support;
• 3,500 personnel, rising to a peak of 7,500, to provide venue security
• A number of personnel participating in ceremonial events.
military assets
A number of military assets will also be deployed, including:
• HMS OCEAN, the largest ship in the Royal Navy’s fleet, which will be berthed in the Thames at Greenwich, providing logistics support, accommodation and a helicopter landing site;
• HMS BULWARK, in Weymouth Bay, providing maritime command and control, accommodation, helicopter and small boat basing and logistics supply;
• Typhoon jets, stationed temporarily at RAF Northolt in London and helicopters, likely to be Puma and Lynx, operating from HMS OCEAN to support airspace security;
• Appropriate ground-based air defence capabilities also to support the airspace security effort.
In addition, the military will make available MoD real estate including Woolwich Barracks and Horse Guards.
Once-In-A-Generation Events
Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond MP, commented, that the Olympic and Paralympic Games are once-in-a-generation events for the Uk and they needed to be secure, so that all those competing and attending can enjoy the Games for the celebration of sporting achievement and cultural celebration that it is.
Philip Hammond said: "I am proud to announce the role our Armed Forces will play in support of the Police, LOCOG and others in delivering a safe and secure Games.
"The Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force between them will provide up to 13,500 personnel. Up to 7,500 of them will support the smooth running of Olympic sites and, while the remainder will use their specialist capabilities and equipment to contribute to the delivery of Olympic security.
"I have no doubt that they will do a fantastic job - and I look forward to their professionalism and agility being on show on the world stage once again."
Support however to the Games, will not divert the MoD from its core business. Throughout the Games, the Armed Forces will maintain its commitments to the protection of the UK, to current operations in Afghanistan and to other standing commitments worldwide – including the ability to respond to the unexpected.
The Defence contribution to London 2012 is on a similar scale to military deployed at other recent Olympic Games. The Government has made it clear that the Games should be a peaceful celebration of sporting achievement and a cultural celebration – not a security event.
Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison of the Metropolitan Police, the National Olympic Security Coordinator, was clear on support for this venture. “Delivering a safe and secure Games will only be achieved through a range of different agencies working closely together. I am proud to be leading what will be the Police Service’s biggest ever peacetime safety and security operation. What we are all working towards is providing an environment where millions of people can enjoy the Games and the sport can take centre stage safely and securely.” He said and added,
"Our relationship with the Armed Forces has developed over a number of years and we have huge experience in working with them to deliver major events. Their support to our operation is built on these tried and tested practices. I know that they will also provide excellent support to the event organisers, LOCOG’s, own venue security operation."
HMS Belfast
Considering the extent that the military will be involved in the Olympic games, especially with such as HMS OCEAN and HMS BULWARK, it shows how arrogant, insensitive and hypocritical the Olympic organisers were, when they airbrushed out HMS BELFAST on the Thames from an official poster for the London 2012 Festival, despite the fact that this ship had been proudly moored there since 1971.
This gallant cruiser played a key role in the Normandy landings, helped sink the German warship Scharnhorst and saw action in the 1950-53 Korean War, yet was wiped out with the airbrush from the enemy within.
The Olympic organisers have since apologised but it speaks volumes about the type of people running this event and their true feelings about our military.
Our military personnel will do a first class job, that is the reason they are respected, revered and feared around the world, and their professionalism alone will put those Olympic organisers in their place.
