Olympic timings

It may take only nine minutes to get from King's Cross to Stratford in 2012 - but it looks like it'll take time to get beyond that, if the Winter Olympics in Vancouver are any guide. The Seattle Times reports that 15,000 people are providing security.

"People going to an Olympic event are advised to prepare as they would to board a flight. Banned items include weapons, spray cans, air horns, pepper spray, glass containers and food and beverage purchased outside the venue.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) advises spectators to arrive early. City venues will open two hours before events, and mountain venues will open three hours before events.

Spectators will walk through metal detectors and everything they carry will be subject to X-ray screening. If you want to move through security checkpoints more rapidly, carry as little as possible.

In its "Know before you go" guide, VANOC says spectators who carry no bag, or with a small bag (up to 6 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches) will move through an express line, while those with larger bags will go through the standard line".