Robert Kay crunches the numbers involved in securing & insuring the London 2012 Olympic Games
With the London 2012 Olympic Games in full swing, it is worth remembering the myriad issues—and risks—the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has faced in insuring an event that is “the biggest security challenge this country has faced for decades”. A glance at the magnitude of the Games reveals some of the challenges.
London 2012 in numbers
Construction of the London Olympic Park required the demolition of more than 200 buildings, renewal of 1.4 million square metres of site, addition of 200 kilometres of electrical cables and construction of 30 bridges. In addition 4,000 trees, 74,000 plants, 60,000 bulbs and 350,000 wetland plants have been planted (and 2,000 newts relocated to a nature reserve).
In total, there are 50 sites, hosting 14,700 athletes from 205 countries competing across 26 sports in 34 venues. Moreover, roughly 500,000 spectators, 20,000 media and broadcasters, and a worldwide television audience of about five billion (with £5bn being the estimated advertising revenue) are expected on a daily basis.
The precautions taken to safeguard
