All Eyes on London for the Olympics

Everyone’s attention is on the Olympics in London, and Alex Gallafent of The World is in the midst of the excitement.

“It’s an exciting time,” says Gallafent. “I think people are still buzzing from the opening ceremony Friday night. The glow from that hasn’t faded yet.”

Gallafent says the games have been going smoothly as well. “Everyone is out and about and watching things.”

Despite the empty-seats fiasco, the venues seem very busy to Gallafent. But outside the venues is a different picture.

“Elsewhere in London, away from the venues, things are very quiet. I think people may have been scared off by the stories, the expectations of chaos on the transport network,” he says. “They say away from the venues it’s hard to know the Olympics are going on, save for a few signs on the streets.”

Still, Gallafent says London is on the right track and doing well as host of the Olympics this year.

“I think we’re doing pretty well,” says Gallafent. “Having said that, it’s only Tuesday on the first week, so we have a long way to go. I hope things continue to go as well as they have … so far, so good but I would hesitate to say it’s been a success until the flames have been extinguished.”

Gallafent returns for a Morning Edition catch-up on Aug. 3.