August 12, 2012|By Jean Marbella, The Baltimore Sun | By Jean Marbella, The Baltimore Sun
Initially, the Games did experience some transit problems — drivers hired for the event sometimes got lost driving athletes and guests from the airport to the village or their hotels. And there was outrage in the first days of competition, when large swaths of empty seats were seen by viewers at home, many of whom had been foiled in their attempts to buy tickets and were angered to see them go unused.
After a couple of days of scrambling, organizers eventually released seats to a public that seemed quite eager to snap them up.
"Getting the tickets in the beginning was difficult," said Markie, the construction worker. "We didn't get any in the first batch."
It was worth it, though, for the experience of having the Games in his own country. "I'm proud of Britain," Markie said.
Martin Evans, 36, a surgeon from South Wales, termed the whole experience "fantastic." He and his wife Amanda, 39, brought their 5- and 7-year-old daughters, Mali and Nia, to the women's modern pentathlon events on Sunday, although they left their four-week-old baby Cadi at home.
"It's been great. It's a good thing for London," he said. "At work, everyone is captivated by it."
His wife, Amanda, 39, said she was thrilled when London was chosen as the 2012 host.
"I've always wanted to go to the Olympics," she said. "I can't believe how organized it's been. There have been people and signs everywhere. It's all come together. It's really, really been good."
And the Games have lived up to their slogan, "Inspire a generation." The Evans girls have plans to add gymnastics, tennis and golf to their lives.
Jean.marbella@baltsun.com
Twitter.com/jean_marbella
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