US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney tried on Thursday to calm a row over unflattering comments he made about the London Olympics, as he met a series of British political leaders. The Republican former governor of Massachusetts jetted in with wife Ann on Wednesday for a three-day trip which will take in the opening ceremony and a meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron.
But he caused a storm in Britain when he said in a television interview aired Wednesday that there were "disconcerting" reports about London's Olympic preparations, and questioned whether Britons were behind the Games. Meeting opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband on Thursday, Romney gave a more diplomatic reply when asked about security worries and about an embarrassing mix-up over the North Korean flag by Olympic officials.
"It is impossible for absolutely no mistakes to occur," Romney said. "Of course there will be errors from time to time, but those are all overshadowed by the extraordinary demonstrations of courage, character and determination by the athletes. "The Games are, after all, about the athletes, the volunteers and the people of the community who come together to celebrate those athletes. As soon as the Games begin, we all forget the organisers and focus on the athletes." In an interview with NBC News in London on Wednesday, Romney had said more pessimistically it was "hard to know just how well it will turn out."
"There are a few things that were disconcerting," he said. "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." British border officials on Wednesday called off a 24-hour walkout by immigration staff scheduled for Thursday. Romney even called into question whether the British people as a whole were supportive of the event. "Do they come together and celebrate the Olympic moment? That's something which we only find out once the Games actually begin," he said.
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