US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney made some undiplomatic criticism of London's preparations for the Olympic Games on Wednesday, expressing concern about Britain's readiness to host the event.
"It's hard to know just how well it will turn out," Romney, who is running to unseat President Barack Obama in November's election, told NBC News from London, where he will attend the opening ceremony of the games on Friday.
"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," he warned.
Romney even called into question whether the British people as a whole were behind the spectacle, saying this would be key their success.
"Do they come together and celebrate the Olympic moment? And that's something which we only find out once the games actually begin," he said.
Romney, a multimillionaire businessman and investor, was called in to head the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City after preparations were marred by scandal and has first-hand knowledge of how to put on a successful Olympics.
