London Latest - BOA on Missile Plan; Basketball Draw; Football Tickets

Missiles on Roofs for Games

British Olympic Association CEO Andy Huntdownplays a decision to install missiles on London rooftops ahead of the Olympics.

The Ministry of Defence released Monday a list of six possible sites in London where surface-to-air missiles could be deployed during the Games.

The government has not taken a definite decision about using missiles, but the proposal is included as part of the "Exercise Olympic Guardian" security drill taking place this week.

"Putting missiles in place in the way it has been suggested today is no different to the Beijing Games or indeed Athens. I believe they existed in those two cities," Hunt tells Around the Rings.

While such defenses are not uncommon, their placement on residential rooftops certainly separates London from Beijing or Athens.

"At the end of the day, I have every confidence in the security plans that have been drawn by all the government agencies working together to try and produce a safe Games," says Hunt.

The nine-day exercise across London as well as Olympic sailing venue Weymouth and Portland involves both military and civilian personnel on land, sea and air.

"For me it’s about making sure the athletes and the British public feel safe at these Games," Hunt tells ATR.

"It may be a surprise to some members of the public because they haven’t seen that in an Olympic environment before, but it is nothing unusual."

The exercise starts Wednesday and runs through May 10.

London Hoops Draws Unveiled

USA Basketball will open its men’s Olympic title defense against Argentina, France and Tunisia.

The draw – conducted Monday at a FIBA Central Board meeting in Rio de Janeiro – put Australia, Brazil, hosts Great Britain and Beijing 2008 runner-up Spain in the second of two-six team groups for London 2012.

The top two finishers from an Olympic qualifying tournament to be played in Venezuela in early July will round out USA’s group with the third-place team from Caracas joining Spain.

On the women’s side, four-time defending champ USA are pitted against Angola, China as well as the first, second and fourth teams from a qualifier to be played in Turkey in late June.

Brazil,Great Britain, Russia, reigning runner-up Australia as well as the third and fifth teams from Ankara are bound for Group B.

"For every major Championship, the draw is a major milestone," FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann said after Monday’s ceremony.

"Players begin picturing themselves on the court and thinking about match-ups. Fans start imagining the atmosphere."

At the Games, the top four finishers from each group will head to knockout rounds with the gold-medal games scheduled forAug. 11 and 12 at the Basketball Arena in Olympic Park.

London Football Tickets for Sale

Tickets for the London 2012 football tournament are back on sale.

Seats start at $32 for adults with "pay your age" prices available for spectators under 16. Senior citizens 60 or over will pay $26.

Tickets are available on a first-come-first-served basis andinclude Team GB's women kicking off both the tournament and the Olympic Games against New Zealand in Cardiff.

"This is a great opportunity for people across the U.K. to be part of the Games, and see great matches at great prices," LOCOG commercial director Chris Townsend said in a statement.

Remaining tickets for all sports go on sale in May.

Media Watch

Ahead of the Olympics and Queen’s Jubilee,The New York Timesdedicated its Sunday "Travel" section to London, warning potential visitors: "This is not a city that suffers fools gladly."

TNT Magazine interviews Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone, the two favorites for Thursday's mayoral election, about their visions for London as well as its Olympic plans.

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo tells SI.com the season-ending injury of reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose could force Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski to consider adding names to his candidate pool for the Games-time roster.

Written by Ed Hula III with reporting in London by Christian Radnedge.

20 Years at #1: