London Latest - More Troops for Games; Olympics Duty for Big Ben; Royals Watch

(ATR) LOCOG CEO Paul Deighton says the British government’s decision to mobilize the 1,200 troops put on standby last week is a "brilliant" move with three days to go until the Olympics.

"We just want to make sure that this absolutely works without any worry at all," he told Wednesday morning’s press briefing on Games operations, insisting Wednesday’s deployment was simply an additional "derisk" measure and not a reaction to the failure of private contractor G4S.

"The net outcome of this change, of course, is that you end up with an even better security force," he said, repeatedly suggesting that the British soldiers now patrolling Olympic Park are better trained and more reliable than G4S personnel.

Deighton labeled the controversy a "poor performance within a very strong contract" but added that G4S numbers – just under 6,000 at the moment – are increasing by the day and should reach 7,000 by Friday.

He also admitted that new roving security teams responsible for ensuring the training and operations of both public and private sector guards remain "up to scratch" are a new installation in response to the G4S shortfall.

Also onstage for Wednesday’s briefing were secretary of state for transport Justine Greening, Transport for London commissioner Peter Hendy and Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Chris Allison.

"Fine, very happy, totally support it," Allison said about the additional troops.

Asked about Tuesday’s suspension of service on the Tube’s crucial Central line, Greening and Hendy refused to characterize the breakdown as an embarrassment, even given its unfortunate timing in the hours before, during and after London 2012’s first ticketed opening ceremony dress rehearsal.

"Actually, on a transport system as complex as London’s, things do wrong," Greening said.

"What it showed is that although one line went down, the rest of them were working."

Hendy then clarified that the Overground went down as well but credited the "huge amount of redundancy in the system" for getting everyone home safely from Olympic Stadium.

"I’m sorry that two lines serving the Park went down. The rest of them didn’t."

Bells Sound for Olympics

Big Ben will join thousands of other bells across the U.K. in quite literally ringing in the Games.

"Work No. 1197: All the bells in a country rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes" is Turner Prize-winning artist and musician Martin Creed’s aptly titled commission for the London 2012 Festival, scheduled for Friday from 8:12 to 8:15 a.m.

For the Palace of Westminster’s world-famous hour bell, that means 40 times in the allotted three minutes, marking the first time since the funeral of King George VI in 1952 that Big Ben has been rung outside its normal schedule.

"I am delighted we can play our part in this Martin Creed artwork," said John Berclow MP, the Speaker of the House of Commons.

As part of his world-record attempt for most bells rung simultaneously, Creed is asking everyone in the U.K. to play a part by sounding whatever bells are available, including the free ringtone "Work No. 1372" available for download here.

Royals Watch

Team GB ambassadors the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as well as Prince Harry are set to spectate at upwards of 30 events throughout the 2012 Olympics.

London’s Daily Telegraph reports that the three will be in action as royal cheerleaders on all but two days of the Games.

That includes Friday’s opening ceremony for all three, the Aug. 5 men’s 100m final for Prince Harry, tennis at Wimbledon for William and Kate, swimming’s 800m freestyle final for Kate only and the Aug. 8 women’s beach volleyball final at Horse Guards Parade for just Harry.

The Prince will also pull double duty as Kate’s date for the Aug. 12 closing ceremony. William’s duties with the Royal Air Force will prevent him from attending the second week of the Games.

Reported in London by Matthew Grayson

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.