It will take responsibility for recruiting, training and managing the 10,000-strong security workforce that will be tasked with securing the Games alongside the police and local authorities across all London 2012 venues.

G4S is the world's leading security solutions group which specialises in outsourcing of business processes in sectors where security and safety risks are considered a strategic threat.

Last year marked the 75th anniversary of G4S in the UK where the company now employs 50,000 people.

The group has extensive experience in the security of sporting and other major events.

They have been responsible for the security at the Olympic Park site in East London since 2008 but the new deal with London 2012 will cover all Olympic and Paralympic venues across the UK.

London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton said: "This deal represents where we are with our plans for the Games – we're now looking at operational delivery.

"G4S will help us ensure that the security provisions in place are robust and of the highest professionalism and we welcome them to the London 2012 family.

"Our commercial programme has been a great success and we're now approaching our targets which will contribute to the staging of spectacular Games in 2012."

David Taylor-Smith, regional chief executive of G4S UK and Africa, added: "We have worked extremely hard with LOCOG, the police, central government and the host venues and boroughs to develop a security proposal which will provide excellent security for the Games, while ensuring that spectators, competitors and providers of services can enjoy the spectacle."

London 2012 and G4S will collaborate with the Bridging the Gap scheme established by the British Security Industry Association, the Security Industry Authority, Skills for Security and North Hertfordshire College to identify talented people from further education colleges across the UK.

The Bridging the Gap initiative is set to bring thousands of new recruits into the security industry.

It provides a formal qualification for further education graduates from across the UK, leading to a guaranteed job interview to help supplement the security provision at Games time.

The programme has been awarded the London 2012 "Inspire Mark" and it is hoped that the project will prove to be a gateway for long-term careers in the security industry, providing a lasting legacy.

The intake of students for London 2012 will be managed by G4S.

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