London 2012 Chair Sebastian Coe has admitted the recent inclement weather has led to "serious challenges, with emergency measures being taken at waterlogged venues" including Greenwich Park and Eton Dorney, according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN. The weather has "proved most challenging at more rural venues" such as Greenwich Park and Eton Dorney, where "tracks are being laid for vehicles and spectators advised to wear wellies and wet weather gear." Coe said, "This is proving quite a challenge to us. We've got waterlogged sites, we've got resurfacing taking place, particularly in some of our more sensitive sites, our more rural sites" (GUARDIAN, 7/17). The PA reported that forecasters said it was too early to predict the weather during the Games, although there was a "glimmer of hope" that it may brighten up. MeteoGroup forecaster Julian Mayes said, "There is a glimmer of hope that the main depression track, which has been the source of the rain we have experienced, is beginning to move north now, so we are expecting to see better weather in Southeast England. Too early to say whether London would be spared rain on the night of the Olympics opening ceremony" (PA, 7/17).
