LONDON - British lawmakers clamoured for an explanation Thursday about why the military needs to field more troops to protect the Olympics after a private security contractor that was paid millions to do that failed to recruit enough staff.
The development is considered a major embarrassment for London's Olympic Organizing Committee just two weeks ahead of the games.
Home Secretary Theresa May confirmed that the British government will deploy an additional 3,500 troops at the London Olympics. That's because of concerns that the firm G4S — which had been contracted to provide the bulk of the 13,200 private security guards protecting 100 Olympic venues — may not hit its target because of problems recruiting and training staff.
May stressed to lawmakers that the security operation for the Olympics — which officially kick off on July 27 but have soccer games as early as July 25 — had been meticulously planned. Still she said contingency planning had always been necessary amid a constantly changing security environment.
"Concerns have arisen about the ability of G4S to deliver the required number of guards for all Olympics venues," she said Thursday. "We have now agreed that it would be prudent to deploy additional military support."
The move brings the total number of military personnel including reservists protecting the games to 17,000 — dwarfing the 9,500 troops Britain has in Afghanistan, and at a time when the armed forces are coping with thousands of job cuts.
The substantial security operation for the Olympics also will feature 12,000 police, 3,000 volunteers, Typhoon fighter jets, helicopters, two warships and bomb disposal experts.
May said the "absolute gap in the numbers was only crystallized" a day ago.
"G4S have let the country down and we have literally had to send in the troops," said opposition Labour Party lawmaker Keith Vaz, demanding to know when the issue was first identified and if G4S — which has millions in contracts from the British government — will suffer financial penalties.
Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesman Steve Field said the security firm should face penalties if it breaches its contract.
But Conservative lawmaker Philip Hollobone said the penalties should go beyond Olympics-related fines.
"My constituents would want the Home Secretary and the government to say that G4S can have no more government contracts whatsoever until they pay every last penny of the additional cost" of the troops, he said.
May stressed that military operations elsewhere will not be affected by the additional deployment for the Olympics but acknowledged the move will put extra strain on servicemen during the summer holiday season.
Britain has committed 553 million pounds ($857 million) for venue security, covering arenas in London and other locations across Britain, including a southwest England sailing centre and five soccer stadiums.
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Associated Press writer David Stringer contributed to this report.
Cassandra Vinograd can be reached at http://twitter.com/CassVinograd
