LONDON, July 26 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister David Cameron Thursday said security was the government's main concern on the eve of the official opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
"Obviously, our main concern is to have secure games, that is more important than all else," said Cameron at a press conference.
Cameron toured the Olympic complex Thursday accompanied by Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
"There are police officers in the streets of London, in the skies and in the waters of the Thames, and they are backed by the best military personnel in the world," Cameron said.
Plans "to respond to any emergency" are working like clockwork, he added.
About 18,200 members of the British army have been put in charge of safeguarding sporting venues following the failure of private security company G4S to meet its obligations. Just days before the games, the company announced it had been unable to recruit and train some 10,500 private guards for the games, as it had been contracted to do years ago.
The British government decided to call in the army to cover the gaps in security left by G4S, meaning some soldiers were unable to take their summer holidays and others will be working straight through with no rest before returning to duty in Afganistan.
President of the International Olympic Committe Jacques Rogge recently said the British government's decision to deploy troops was "a good call."
In addition to the troops, another 18,000 private security workers will be stationed inside the Olympic complex during the entire event, from July 27 to Aug. 12. Enditem
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