London, August 9: Even as violence grips the Hackney area of east London - one of the five boroughs for the 2012 Games - the British Olympic Association (BOA) today (Aug 9) assured that plans for the quadrennial extravaganza will not be affected by the riots.

The unrest, which started on Saturday night in the Tottenham area of north London after a police shooting, spread closer to the Olympic complex in Hackney on Monday, raising concerns about security and policing for the event.

However, BOA Director of Communications, Darryl Seibel said he was confident that the Games would pass off safely.

"It makes an Olympic Games and a Paralympic Games all the more important. We need a reason to come together. What better city to do it in than London. It is the only city to be honoured with the Olympic Games on three occasions," Seibel told ''Sky News''.

Seibel added that he was unaware of any damages being caused to the Games' venues.

"This is a reflection of the world we live in today. This is not a reflection of London, this is a reflection of the world we live in today."

PTI