Britain's government has decided to deploy 1,200 additional troops to protect venues at the London Olympics, after a private security firm failed to supply enough guards.

Olympics Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Tuesday government ministers believe nothing should be left to chance three days before the start of the largest peacetime event ever in Britain.

The extra troops raise Britain's military deployment for the Olympics to 18,200.

Private security provider G4S was contracted to bring in about 10,000 security personnel but apologized for not hiring enough staff to fulfill its commitment.