With just over 90 days to go before the start of the London 2012 Olympics, the countdown to the biggest sporting event in the world is well under way.

Indeed, it’s hard to miss all the hype surrounding the sporting extravaganza, which is expected to provide a boost to the UK economy when it takes place in July and August.

While the Olympics will undoubtedly deliver a welcome shot in the arm for many businesses located in London or in close proximity to venues in other host cities, it will also cause plenty of disruption to companies of all sizes and all industries if they fail to plan properly.

And it’s not just London-based firms that need to be mindful of the potential knock-on impact caused by the hundreds of thousands of sports fans attending events or heading to the English capital to be part of the action.

So, here are a few things to consider to help get your business ready for the Olympics (July 27-August 12) and Paralympics (August 29-September 9):

1. Devise an in-depth strategy outlining the possible disruption across all departments and communicate this to staff asking for as much feedback as possible.

2. Be mindful of stock levels before the Olympic Games start as the line of supply may be disrupted by the increase of traffic in and around London so assess whether it’s appropriate to make alternative plans.

3. Keep staff informed of potential travel disruption that could impact on the journey to and from work. The Olympic organisers have issued some travel advice for London-based businesses here that may be handy, although events are also scheduled to take place in cities like Cardiff, Manchester and Newcastle. A list of all the venues can be found here. Use the Olympic website to find out what’s on, where and when – and act accordingly.

4. Adopt more flexible working hours to offset the risk of potential travel disruption to staff. This could also be extended to working from home or relocating temporary depending on the location of your business to the Olympic Park.

5. Change opening hours to accommodate the influx of extra visitors.

6. Reschedule any business meetings that may be impacted by the Games.

7. Ensure staffing levels are at the appropriate level during the Games as some of your workforce may have requested time off to attend events.

8. Introduce a TV into the workplace to allow staff to watch events during breaks.

Photo courtesy of Dave Highbury on Flickr.