Romney backtracks on Games comments
US presidential candidate Mitt Romney was today forced to backtrack on comments in which he appeared to question Britain’s readiness to host the Olympic Games as he visited London for talks with David Cameron.
Mr Romney told an American TV network last night that there were “disconcerting” signs around the Games, and it was “hard to know just how well it will turn out”.
But after his discussions with the British Prime Minister David Cameron in 10 Downing Street, the Republican presidential hopeful was full of praise for London’s preparations.
“I am very delighted with the prospects of a highly successful Olympic Games,” said Mr Romney. “What I have seen shows imagination and forethought and a lot of organisation. I expect the Games to be highly successful.”
Speaking to NBC News last night, Mr Romney said: “It’s hard to know just how well it will turn out. There are a few things that were disconcerting.
“The stories about the private security firm not having enough people, the supposed strike of the immigration and customs officials – that obviously is not something which is encouraging.”
And he questioned British enthusiasm for the Olympics, asking: “Do they come together and celebrate the Olympic moment? And that’s something which we only find out once the Games actually begin.”
Mr Cameron faced questions about Mr Romney’s comments at an eve-of-Games press conference with organiser Sebastian Coe at the Olympic Park.
He stopped short of criticising his US guest, telling reporters: “I think we’ll show the whole world not just that we’ve come together as a United Kingdom, but also we’re extremely good at welcoming people from across the world.”
But some observers thought the PM may be drawing a pointed contrast with Mr Romney’s own experience as chief executive of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002 when he said: “We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world.
“Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere.”
Mr Romney, who is challenging Democrat Barack Obama in November’s presidential poll, later said that in his experience, all Olympic Games encountered minor organisational hitches in the first few days.
But he added: “When the Games begin and the athletes take over, all the mistakes the organisers make – and I made a few – are overwhelmed by the many things the athletes carry out that capture the spirit of the Games.
“I don’t know of any Olympics that has been able to be run without any mistakes whatsoever, but they are small and I was encouraged to see that something that could have represented a real challenge, which was the immigration and customs officers on duty, was something that was resolved and people are all pulling together.”
Mr Romney was full of praise for the London organisers’ efforts to involve as many people as possible in the Olympic experience.
He hailed the “heartening” torch relay, as well as the decision to stage beach volleyball matches at a stadium in the heart of London on Horseguards Parade, which was visible from the Number 10 room where he talked with Mr Cameron.
Mr Romney’s visit to London also took in talks with Chancellor George Osborne, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Labour leader Ed Miliband, former PM Tony Blair and MI6 chief Sir John Sawers.
There was some speculation on Twitter that he might have momentarily forgotten Mr Miliband’s name, after he addressed him in front of the TV cameras as “Mr Leader”.
He told the Labour leader: “Like you, Mr Leader, I look forward to our conversations this morning… and recognise, of course, the unique relationship that exists between our nations, our commitment to common values, our commitment to peace in the world and our desire to see a stronger and growing economy.”
Mr Miliband said that, as well as international and economic issues, he was hoping to discuss their shared love of the Boston Red Sox baseball team.
“I welcome this meeting because I think we come from different parties and also different viewpoints on some issues, but I think it’s incredibly important that leaders work together and that we respect the electorates in each of our countries,” the Labour leader added.
Mr Blair said it was important for Britain to have good relations with whoever emerged as President in November.
“People used to say to me ’You get on with Bill Clinton and you get on with George Bush’ and I used to say I like them both very much in different ways, but it is partly the job of the British Prime Minister to have that relationship with the American President,” Mr Blair told CNN.
Mr Romney, who was this evening holding a fund-raising dinner for supporters in London, said his meetings had been “enlightening and instructive”.
And he added: “I also feel, as Americans do across our nation, a special relationship with the nation of Great Britain and with the people here.
“Obviously, our appreciation for the contribution of British soldiers, fighting side by side with those of the coalition and those of our nation in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the last years is something which is important to us and that we recognise as a contribution that has bettered the world.”
