Empty Seats Abound At Olympics: Maybe Mitt Romney Was Kinda Correct

by William Teach | July 30, 2012 7:30 am

Hey, remember a few days ago when Romney said this[1]?

“There are a few things that were disconcerting, the stories about the private security firm not having enough people, supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials, that obviously is not something which is encouraging. Because there are three parts that makes Games successful.

“Number one, of course, are the athletes. That’s what overwhelmingly the Games are about. Number two are the volunteers. And they’ll have great volunteers here. But number three are the people of the country. Do they come together and celebrate the Olympic moment? And that’s something which we only find out once the Games actually begin.”

That’s the full quote, not just the first paragraph, or even just the “disconcerting” part, which most media outlets used. And it led to P.M. David Cameron saying “”We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities in the world. Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere” and London Mayor Boris Johnson “”He wants to know whether we’re ready. Are we ready? Are we ready? Yes, we are.” Oh, really?

(Washington Post[2]) Hoping to quell controversy after large swaths of seats appeared unfilled, London Olympic organizers said British troops and schoolchildren had been given free tickets Sunday to fill many of the vacant rows.

A day after the city reveled in the splendor of Danny Boyle’s critically acclaimed Opening Ceremonies, many locals were piqued Saturday when television footage showed empty seats at some of the most popular sporting events, including swimming and gymnastics, that they had been told were sold out. Such scenes ignited speculation that corporate sponsors had been provided tickets they weren’t using, leaving the public on the outside looking in.

This has prompted a big investigation into why there are tons of people mascarading as empty seats. The UK Daily Mail[3] has a ton of pictures of those empty seats, and troops filling a few of them. So, looks like Mitt was able to fill seats in the “middle of nowhere” yet, in London, they are having issues. Of course, the people want to come together to celebrate the Olympics, it’s just there are too many problems getting them into the seats.

Then you have parents of athletes turned away[4] from the Aquatics center.

Oh, and the Olympics flame[5], which is supposed to be kept lit the entire time, was extinguished to move it to another venue so that people could actually see it outside the venue, a criticism already lobbed.

Perhaps what Romney said wasn’t a gaffe after all.

Crossed at Pirate’s Cove[6]. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach[7].

Endnotes:
  1. Romney said this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/26/mitt-romney-olympics-blunder?newsfeed=true
  2. Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/at-london-olympics-empty-seats-have-organizers-scrambling-giving-away-tickets-to-children-and-soldiers/2012/07/29/gJQA6YVBJX_story.html?hpid=z2
  3. The UK Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2180579/Olympics-2012-Row-row-seats--tickets-sent-foreign-VIPs-black-market.html
  4. parents of athletes turned away: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/9437641/Olympic-seats-row-parents-of-athletes-turned-away-from-Aquatics-Centre-in-confusion-over-London-2012-tickets.html
  5. Olympics flame: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/9437590/London-2012-Olympic-flame-goes-out-as-cauldron-is-moved.html
  6. Pirate’s Cove: http://www.thepiratescove.us/
  7. @WilliamTeach: http://twitter.com/WilliamTeach

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