SOCHI, Russia (AP) It's an issue that comes up in the early days of almost every Olympics: What to do about those empty seats and lack of buzz?
It's the case again in Sochi, with some senior Olympic officials voicing concern about less-than-capacity crowds and a dearth of spectator enthusiasm.
One International Olympic Committee member suggested Monday that school children and unarmed soldiers be let in to help fill venues.
Gerhard Heiberg, a Norwegian member who heads the IOC marketing commission, praised the overall organization but said the games weren't as lively as hoped.
''We feared that a little bit,'' Heiberg said. ''We were warned about this. The TV pictures are wonderful, the competitions are wonderful, the venues are great. But I feel a bit the lack of enthusiasm and the joy of sports.''
http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/sochi-faces-issue-of-empty-seats-atmosphere-021014?gt1=39002
Funny, I feel the same way about watching the Olympics this year too. I usually tune in more but the enthusiasm just has not been there this year, partially due to the commentary.