Britain vowed to review security plans for the 2012 London Olympics on Tuesday as a third day of rioting forced the cancellation of England’s football match against the Netherlands.
Widespread unrest across the British capital, and the inability of police to deal swiftly with Monday’s multiple outbreaks of violence, have prompted questions over security plans for next summer’s sports extravaganza.
British Home Secretary Theresa May said officials would “look at what is necessary” to ensure a trouble-free Olympics, where police will be aiming to provide security for some 10,500 athletes. “We take the issues around the Olympics very seriously,” May told BBC radio.
“An awful lot of work has already gone into planning in relation to the security and public order in relation to the Olympics and we will continue to monitor that and continue to look at what is necessary and what we need.”
Olympics minister Hugh Robertson said anyone expressing scepticism about London’s security planning for the 2012 Games was “very, very wrong.”
“We have a commitment to deliver a safe and secure Games and we will do so,” Robertson said.
The scenes of carnage could not have come at a worse time for London organisers, who are currently hosting around 200 senior Olympics officials for three days of meetings to address logistics for the Games.
However a spokesman for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the organisation was confident London could deliver a secure event.
“Security at the Olympic Games is a top priority for the IOC,” he said. “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.”
British Olympic officials meanwhile expressed confidence that London would be able to host a trouble-free games.
“This is not a reflection of London, this is a reflection of the world we live in today,” British Olympic Association director of communications Darryl Seibel told Sky Sports News.
The unrest forced a hurried conclusion to the beach volleyball Olympic test event taking place at Horseguards Parade in central London.
The event had been due to finish at 10pm local time before its end was brought forward to 7pm.
The British sporting world reacted with disgust to the scenes of looting and rioting in London, which has spread to several cities across Britain.
Double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes branded the violence a “bloody disgrace.”
“A minority of hooligans are sending out bad message for the rest of the country. World eyes 2012!” Holmes wrote on Twitter.
“In less than one year we welcome the world to London and right now the world doesn’t want to come,” British distance runner Paula Radcliffe added.
The comments came as football chiefs confirmed England’s friendly against the Dutch at Wembley scheduled for Wednesday had been cancelled amid fears for fan and player safety.
“It is terribly sad that a major sports event of this sort has to be cancelled in this way,” FA chairman David Bernstein said. “But we have to put safety and security matters first … I think we have done the only thing we could do.”
The unprecedented decision followed the earlier postponement of League Cup matches involving West Ham, Charlton and Crystal Palace after police advice.
England star Rio Ferdinand responded to the announcement on micro-blogging site Twitter.
“England vs Holland game is off, good call. Who wants to see a game of football when our country is in turmoil,” Ferdinand wrote.
Authorities in Birmingham, another city marred by violence on Monday, meanwhile said England’s cricket match against India was set to get under way as planned on Wednesday.
England captain Andrew Strauss said his team’s preparations had been unaffected by the violence.
“When you watch these scenes on the television, it’s horrific and it’s far from England’s proudest moment. But we fully intend to play the game as we would any other game,” Strauss said.
