As London Olympic organisers faced up to an ‘Olympishambles’ on Thursday, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge offered the capital some words of reassurance, insisting that preparations were not “falling at the final hurdle”. 
With just two weeks until the opening ceremony, the London organising committee (Locog) faced arguably its toughest day in seven years, with a series of infrastructure challenges threatening to derail their final preparations.
The deepening security crisis that has meant the emergency deployment of 3,500 troops, the continued closure of the M4, fresh concerns about hold-ups at Heathrow immigration, and the collapse of the O2 network, used by organising committee staff and volunteers, have highlighted the vulnerability of London’s infrastructure.
While Locog and the Government insist that security will not be compromised by the failure of G4S to supply sufficient staff, the M4 closure has the potential to genuinely impact on the smooth running of the Olympics in the coming days.
Athletes, team staff and officials are due to begin arriving through Heathrow in large numbers on Monday, and will expect to use the dedicated Games lane on the M4 to be transported to the Olympic village.
Were it to remain closed – and last night there was no definitive end date for emergency repairs to the elevated section – the opening days of ‘Games time’ could be marked by travel delays and disruption.
The Olympic Route Network that runs from Heathrow along the M4 is due to open on Monday. If the M4 remains closed an alternative ORN, using the A30 and A4, will be deployed.
Around 20 teams are due to arrive on Sunday and Monday, including a contingent from the US and the Swedish team. They will be the first of a flood of 10,500 athletes expected in the next two weeks.
O2 insisted on Thursday that its network problems, which were not confined to London, had been fixed.
Rogge attempted to play down the severity of the issues facing London, but acknowledged that athletes and officials should be braced for delays in the days leading up to the opening ceremony.
Asked if London’s planning was falling at the final hurdle, Rogge said: “No, definitely not. This is not peculiar to London, we have always had difficulties in the time leading up to the Games, this is something that does not worry us, it will be fine by the time of the opening ceremony.”
“We have been informed that the security will not be affected by this. It will have to be solved by Locog and the Government but we are very optimistic that all the provisions will be taken.
“On the M4 we have assurances from the authorities that the highway will be repaired in due time. They will be ready by Games time.”
As concerns focused on the immediate future of the Olympic project, the long-term legacy of the main stadium inched towards a conclusion.
The London Legacy Development Corporation said it had four bidders in its third attempt to settle the stadium’s fate, with West Ham understood to remain the leading candidate.
-Paul Kelso
www.telegraph.co.uk