Security questions were raised when London police were able to sneak a faux bomb into Olympic Park two hundred days before the Summer Games are scheduled to begin and as a special Cabinet meeting was held.  When the Olympic Delivery Authority, they neglected to comment on the existence of the fake explosive, but did say that testing is a standard practice regarding all important security operations.

The statement from the Authority went on to say that tests of this nature are a necessity to ensure that London will remain secure this year.  To that end, the testing is designed to detect potential threats before the Games begin as well as for their duration.  The safety of the public, the Authority’s statement concluded, is their first priority this summer.

The Olympics are scheduled to take place at the Olympic Stadium and the Velodrome as well as other locations, July 26 through August 12.  The safety of the audience and participants has been of high concern since a 1972 terror attack in Munich killed eleven athletes and coaches from Israel.  London itself has also been shadowed by terrorist threats.  In 2005, 52 citizens were killed when suicide bombers aimed their deadly attention at London’s transit network.

Ticketing issues as well as fears about terrorist attacks were highlighted as Britain’s

Cabinet met in Olympic Park to celebrate the 200 day countdown until the games begin.  Prime Minister David Cameron remarked that this year’s Olympics are the ideal time to showcase all of the special features that the United Kingdom possesses.  Therefore, one of the central features at the Cabinet’s meeting in Olympic Park revolved around safety and ways to neutralize any incipient threats that might arise.

Olympic authorities simultaneously announced that they had signed contracts to allow them use after the games conclude of six of the eight permanent venues.  This includes those used for handball and swimming and the ArcelorMittal Orbit observation tower as well.

Ticket problems arose when a limited time sale had to be put on hold indefinitely after computer problems made it difficult for buyers to make their ticket purchases.  According to reps from the organizing committee, the problems sprang from buyers who changed their minds and tried to resell their tickets but were thwarted by the malfunctioning software in the online system, suspending sales until Monday.

Olympic tickets can only be purchased in Europe.  However, customers are still able to visit the site and buy tickets for both soccer and the Paralympics.

The most unusual aspect of this story is that the public found out about it.  Security measures are difficult to take, and according to experts, no event can be made completely safe from terrorist attacks.  However, the security measures already taken have proven to more expensive and difficult to enforce than was initially expected.  The British government expects the threat of terrorist attack to be severe during the length of the Games, which means that some kind of attack is likely, and also that locals are undoubtedly beefing up their own home security systems.