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Download Britain put an extra 3,500 military personnel on standby on Wednesday to protect venues at the London Olympics, after a private contractor said it may not be able to provide enough security guards on time. The contractor, G4S, had been enlisted to provide the bulk of the 13,200 private security guards across 100 venues, but said in a statement that it may not hit its target because of problems recruiting and training staff. In a statement, the government ministry in charge of crime and security said the troops would be ready to be deployed to cover any shortfall. Defense Secretary Philip Hammond is scheduled to confirm the full details to Parliament on Thursday in an official written ministerial statement. G4S insisted that it still hopes to be able to supply the guards, but Britain's government is putting the troops on alert to be quickly deployed if the contractor cannot meet its obligations. Main opposition Labour Party lawmaker Tessa Jowell, Olympics minister in the previous government, said the news was a concern with the London Games due to begin on July 27. "This is clearly a serious problem, and we have to understand how this problem arose," she said. Britain has committed 553 million pounds ($857 million) for venue security, covering arenas in London and other locations across Britain - including a southern England sailing center and five soccer stadiums. | 
