Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
Peader - a lot of that would've been acclimitisation by the numerous countries around the world who can afford such luxuries and aren't used to the stifling Summer heat of Athens. The only really wealthy nations in the world with hot weather are Australia and Japan (the likes of South Africa & Brazil aren't particularly wealthy; the likes of the US, Canada and New Zealand aren't warm nations overall). The rest had the money and the will to acclimatise back in 2004.
London will be the reverse of that - why would anyone from the US, Canada, Germany etc need or want to come to Ireland in advance of the games ? It's just more flying and hassle for the athletes, and more expense for the sports authorities concerened, with no clear benefit. A small number may want to come to somewhere to break up their very long flights (Aus, NZ and Japan, for example) and settle-in away from the hub-bub, but why would they more likely to do that in Ireland than, say the Home Counties, the West Country, or even Scotland/Wales ? Or even Northern France near the Eurostar ?