London Latest - Missile Defense for Games; Forman's Olympic Hospitality Offer

Missile Defense for Games

Britain is prepared to use ground-to-air missiles to protect the 2012 Olympics from terror attacks if necessary.

The government's new defense secretary Philip Hammond announced to MPs in the House of Commons on Monday that such measures were part of the security effort for the Games.

Responding to a question from the man he replaced, Liam Fox, on whether there would be a "full range of multilayered defense and deterrents" for the Games, Hammond offered reassurances.

"I can assure him that all necessary measures to ensure the security and safety of the London Olympic Games will be taken including – if the advice of the military is that it is required –appropriate ground-to-air defenses," he said.

China also deployed surface-to-air weaponry close to the Olympic Park to protect the Beijing 2008 Games from attack.

Hammond's comments came amid reported Games security concerns from the U.S. and its plans to send up to 1,000 of its agents to protect the country's athletes and VIPs.

The U.S. deployment of its security personnel for any Olympics is not uncommon, and a small number of other foreign security agents representing the nations taking part will also be operating during next year's Games.

But the government's Olympic security chief Chris Allison does not expect the U.S. to send as many agents as widely reported. He is traveling to Washington in the coming days to brief the U.S. government on security planning for the Olympics.

Allison told the BBC that the Olympic security operation would be delivered by the British police service and LOCOG. "We will have support from other colleagues up and down the country but it is the British police service that will be doing it," he said.

Around 12,000 officers are to police the Games. The private security firm G4S employed for the Olympics may deploy up to 15,000 more security officials.

Salmon Business Seeks Olympic HospitalityWork

Lance Forman has received planning permission to build a hospitality facility for 8,000 people on the doorstep of the Olympics.

Forman's high quality smoked salmon business had to be relocated to make room for the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium. But Forman's Fish Island has been operating successfully for several years in new premises on the edge of the Olympic Park.

Now Forman's company is actively promoting itself as a party venue for businesses looking to maximise its proximity to the hub of the Olympics.

"Not only will you have the best views of the Olympics, but the London Olympicsand world’s media will have the best view of the Games. The world will be here. This is where the party is happening," Forman's promotional material says.

Forman's has already secured one big gig. The venue is hosting the after-party following the July 27 Games opening ceremony for the Mayor of London and VIPs in aid of the Legacy List charity set up by the Olympic Park Legacy Company.

2012 Transport on Assembly Agenda

The London Assembly will grill Olympic chiefs Tuesday about how they are preparing for one of the biggest transport challenges the capital has ever faced.

Transport is one of the last major concerns for the IOC ahead of the Games. Assembly members want answers to questions including: how demand will be managed and what passengers can expect; plans to maximize walking and cycling to ease the pressure on other transport modes; and the potential knock-on effects of changes to London’s roads, including operation of the Olympic Road Network.

Going before Assembly members are Hugh Sumner, director of transport for the Olympic Delivery Authority, and LOCOG's transport chief Richard George.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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