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.
-Republican U.S. presidential hopeful Mitt Romney getting a head start on foreign relations by questioning London’s readiness for the Olympic Games and incurring the anger of UK Prime Minister David Cameron, London mayor Boris Johnson, and millions of British citizens
Dear Mr. Romney,
How audacious of you to question the spirit of a people when it is clear that you have not done your background “homework”. If you had, you would have seen the very long list of social, artistic, cultural, and just plain fun things that people of Great Britain have organized every day, morning through tube stations closing time (yes, they planned the end of all festivities so that all the visitors and citizens could use public transport to get back to their lodgings at day’s end), both in London and other cities where Olympic events were being held. You would have known about the ingenious use of their beautiful parks, loaded with huge screens, so that those who could not afford thousand dollar (+) tickets would be able to fully experience the glory of these games.
If only the people of the USA and Chicago had such spirit and support for the social, political and economic potential of being the Olympic host, the city of Chicago in 4 years would would be reaping the benefits that the UK is enjoying. But as Americans often do, and as you so beautifully demonstrated in your insensitive and ill-informed remarks, we were our usual critical whinny short sighted selves and were not selected to have the opportunity.
Please, sir, mind what you say.
From a Chicago resident currently mourning the lost potential of the 2016 Olympic summer games.