Britain's Olympics Minister Condemns London Rioters, Reassures IOC

(ATR) As the IOC's top inspectors for London 2012 arrive in the riot-hit city, Olympics minister Hugh Robertson tells Around the Ringsany such outbreaks of violent disorder during the Games will be dealt with.

"This is a deeply regrettable and unforgivable example of low-level crime and disorder," he told ATR at a beach volleyball test event at Horse Guards Parade on Tuesday.

"I suspect the actions of the COBR [Cabinet Office Briefing Room] meeting this morning in increasing the numbers of police on the streets tonight will deal with this pretty swiftly and then we'll make sure it doesn't happen again."

Denis Oswald, head of the IOC Coordination Commission for London, andOlympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli began Tuesday a scheduledtwo-day check-up on London's preparations. With 200 chefs de mission in the city for a four-day seminar and threeOlympic test events this week, the London rioting could hardly havehappened at a worse time except for the Games themselves.

London's image has taken a battering after pictures of the mindlessviolence, vandalism and looting – including the Olympic borough ofHackney – were beamed by broadcasters across the world. The riotserupted after a peaceful protest in the Tottenham area on Saturdayfollowing the shooting of a man by police.

Robertson said he would be meeting IOC officials tonight, adding: "I will be reassuring them and I will be telling them what I have always told the IOC which is that we have a complex and detailed security plan for London 2012.

"It's modeled against every conceivable security outcome. Crucially, it's intelligence-led so we work out what the risk to the Games is."

He insisted the British government would consider reviewing security arrangements for the Games in the wake of the riots.

"We review the security plan the whole time. So when we have detailed and considered information that caused that [the rioting] we will of course look at the plan to see if any changes need to be made."

"But at the moment that's not something we anticipate because public disorder is one of the scenarios we modeled the original plan against."

Robertson claimed the rioting would only tarnish London's reputation in the short-term.

"What athletes and federations, spectators and the IOC will be focusing on is the fundamentals of the London Olympics, and to understand the fundamentals just look behind you – a jaw-dropping venue, a great competition," he told ATR.

"Everyone's enjoying the test event ... all the athletes that I've spoken to are having a fantastic time. They can't quite believe they're here. That's the impression that will remain after the events of the past few nights have passed by."

IOC Confident in London 2012 Security

Despite the images of carnage around London and the arrests of more than 450 people following three nights of violence, the IOC appeared to be unconcerned about security arrangements for next year's Olympics.

"Security at the Olympic Games is a top priority for the IOC," said the IOC.

"It is, however, directly handled by the local authorities, as they know best what is appropriate and proportionate. We are confident they will do a good job in this domain."

The British Olympic Association also believes the Games would not be affected should disorder of a similar magnitude break out during the Olympics.

The BOA insisted that the law enforcement authorities for the Olympics would provide a safe and secure environment for athletes, officials and spectators.

"We know that security has been a top priority in the planning and preparation for London 2012, and we have full confidence in the work being done to prepare for the Games," the BOA said in a statement.

"Our focus is on preparingTeam GB, and the events of the past few days have not impacted our planning and preparation."

LOCOG is busy handling a chef de mission seminar to update the NOCs on various functional aspects of Games operations such as ticketing, accreditation and accommodation. The seminar concludes on Friday.

Rioting Impacts Beach Volleyball, Football International

London 2012 helped oversee Tuesday's FIVB Beach Volleyball International at Horse Guards Parade. The badminton world championships at Wembley Arena this week is another 2012 test event. Other dress rehearsals for the Olympics this week include a 10km Marathon Swimming International at Hyde Park on Saturday and the Surrey Cycle Classic on Sunday.

A LOCOG spokeswoman told ATR that the beach volleyball event got underway on Tuesday "smoothly and peacefully".

But later in the day, London 2012 organizers decided to change the schedule to ensure all games finish before dark. The last three beach volleyball matches were brought forward so the competition ends at 7:15 p.m. rather than 10 p.m. They were rescheduled to be played on practice courts adjacent to the main court during this afternoon’s session.

"We feel this is a sensible and pragmatic approach given recent events inLondon," she told ATR.

The London rioting affected other sports fixtures in the city as well. The English FA decided to call off a football friendly with the Netherlands at Wembley following discussions with the Metropolitan Police, who could not ensure the safety of players and fans.

Amid the scenes of London ablaze in different areas, British Prime Minister David Cameron cut short his holiday in Tuscany, Italy and returned to the U.K. Parliament is being recalled on Thursday to discuss the rioting that has also spread to other large cities in England, including Birmingham, Bristol and Liverpool.

Cameron attended the COBR meeting Tuesday morning and made a statement in which he condemned the rioters. He also visited the Met Police command center in Lambeth.

"We will do everything necessary to restore order to Britain's streets and make them safe for the law-abiding," Cameron said.

Mayor "Ashamed" of Rioting

London Mayor Boris Johnson returned from a trip to Canada late Monday to get to grips with the disorder on the city's streets.

Johnson said that after watching TV images of London rioting shortly before traveling back to England he had felt "a blinding anger at the callousness and selfishness of the rioters".

In a statement, he also said he felt "ashamed at the actions of a small but significant minority" of Londoners and the damage they were doing to the Olympic city's reputation around the planet.

"In less than 12 months we will welcome the world to a great summer Games in the greatest city on earth – and by then we must all hope that we will look back on these events as a bad dream.

"It can be done. But it will be hard, and we will have our work cut out," he added.

A spokesman for the mayor told ATR: "We continually discuss and review security arrangements for the Games with the Metropolitan Police, the Home Office and LOCOG and our plans for the Games already include provisions for the policing of a range of different scenarios.

"While lessons will of course be learned from the awful events of the last few days, the mayor is in no doubt that London will put on a fantastic show next year."

The Met Police's acting commissioner Tim Godwin described the rioting as "an unprecedented level of violence in London".

There were 6,000 officers policing London's streets Monday night. That number has been increased to 16,000 for Tuesday night in a bid to stave off further disturbances.

Reported by Christian Radnedge and Mark Bisson