Sports

Heathrow airport set to handle record numbers

Photo: starekase, Photos.com

Jul 16, 2012 at 7:59 am

LONDON (AP) - Europe's largest airport is set to welcome a record number of passengers as athletes begin arriving for the London Olympics.

Heathrow says that on Monday athletes from 50 nations will arrive in what it is describing as Britain's biggest peacetime transport challenge. Some 236, 955 passengers are expected to pass through the airport. The previous record of 233,562 was set in July 2011.

Heathrow has enlisted some 1,000 volunteers to meet and greet athletes, officials and media _ hoping to put a bright face on the games.

British authorities have also stepped up the numbers of immigration officials to check passports, hoping to avoid the long lines at the border that have made headlines in recent weeks.

The London Olympics start July 27 and end Aug. 12.