Security firm G4S will donate ?2.5 million to Britain's armed forces after its failure to provide enough Olympics guards meant thousands of troops had to be drafted in, the government said Monday.
The money will go towards sports and welfare organisations that have backed athletes who serve in the British military, including rowers Heather Stanning and Pete Reed, said Defence Secretary Philip Hammond.
"This contribution from G4S is welcome news for the Service Welfare funds and will go some way to recognising the inconvenience and extra burden that this commitment has placed upon our forces and their families," Hammond said.
G4S's ?2.5 million ($3.9 million, 3.2 million euro) donation comes after it admitted just two weeks before the Games that it could not meet its ?284-million contract to provide 10,400 security staff for Olympic venues.
The British government had to deploy an extra 4,700 troops to cover the G4S shortfall, bringing its total military deployment at the Olympics to 18,200.
By contrast, Britain has around 9,500 troops on duty in Afghanistan.
"The armed forces provided more to the security and protection of the Games than had originally been planned, but as always they have carried out their tasks with professionalism and good humour," added Hammond.
General David Richards, Britain's chief of defence staff, said the donation "recognises all the hard work and commitment Service personnel have displayed during the London 2012 Olympic Games."
G4S, one of the world's biggest security firms, has pledged to bear the costs of the extra troops. It says overall losses on the contract are expected to be between ?35 million and ?50 million.
Chief executive Nick Buckles told British lawmakers last month that his company would not be bidding to provide security at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/security-firm-g4s-gives-2-5-mn-uk-110026316--oly.html
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