snowrooster

I can't believe there are so many empty seats - especially for such popular events (like gymnastics!). It's actually kind of distracting seeing the unfilled seats in the background sometimes. Oh well, the games have been great regardless!!

vacationdreamer

Yep. I have a vaction booked for next week but if it wasn't paid for/too late to cancel I would have switched to Greece. Although I've heard that in addition to the terrible attendance, that the olympic facilities are fairly isolated and that there aren't a lot of restaurants/bars, etc., so it hasn't been as much "fun" as recent olympics. But maybe they'll now realize how great NYC would be for the Olympics!

mikemo

NO!
M

Carla

I went to Greece with a group of friends in March. There was a lot of construction and downright chaos in some places, but I am glad we went this year. It makes watching the Olympics much more personal. Greece is beautiful.

green_tea

Yeah, sure wish that I was there, too. I really wanted to watch the archery, cycling, fencing and swimming competitions. The TV & internet is sufficing, though...

Is it fair to assume that the reason that not many people are there is because of fears that greece would not be prepared in time? I always had a feeling that they would be; even with a close deadline crunch and setbacks, who there would've allowed any slack??

green_tea

Oops, I didn't mean to say "who would've allowed any slack?" Er, who there would've allowed the preparations for *The Olympics* to fall short of the deadline? They made it, haphazardly, albeit.

gail

My husband I were watching televised soccer game where the stadium looked empty. We both agreed that if we did not have kids we would be booking a flight tomorrow and heading to Athens.

kimamom

It looks absolutely beautiful there. I've watched all three of my kids compete at Championship levels throughout high school, so I'm a very big fan of sports. I've seen them all get medals in wrestling, track, swimming, etc. Nothing compares to the thrill of being #1!!!

Now with my daughter competing in HS swimming and water polo, I've really been enjoying these Olympics. Such talented and devoted young athletes! I wish them all the best, it's more work and devotion than you could ever imagine. Takes a lot of your life away, just to train.

We started them all in competitons very young, I believe around three or four years of age.

We had a swimmer from our local high school that just missed the cuts for the Olympics in Long Beach. ***kim***

Patrick

I remember almost a year ago when a lot of people were planning to go, but finding the hotels and airfares simply outrageous. So they changed their plans. People kept saying, "don't worry, the prices will come down" and of course they did. But many people like to plan ahead. By then they had already made other plans. It's too bad that Athens (not unlike many places that host such events and world's fairs, etc) aimed their sites too high and raised their prices to the moon. It's not surprising to me that many seats are empty.

Clifton

I'd really have loved to be there. I thought they did a phenomenal job with the opening ceremonies and with everything I've been able to witness via TV here. It is a shame so many seats are empty, but it sounds like a goose that laid the golden egg story. My perception too is that crowds and prices would be prohibitive going to an Olympics. I'd almost consider the Beijing games, and combine it with a visit with a friend who's moved back there. Might be good launch point for a trip through other parts of the country.

Scarlett

Greece does look beautiful but after watching the terrible judging for the Mens High bar gymnastics, I don't want to watch any Olympics! The judging is so bad..I feel so sorry for the athletes..what a shame.

designmr

I just luv NBC's footage of the sparkling blue sea...it's like taking a 5-second vacation. I watched the windsurfing event on Bravo just so I could pretend I wasn't stuck in my apartment...

bonniebroad

Scarlett, "ain't it the truth!" I've never seen such ridiculous judging in my life! Felt so sorry for the athletes trying to perform amidst all that chaos tonight!