Billionaires, VIPs and Royalty Hobnob with Olympic Athletes
London, August 8th. In this, the second and final week of the 2012 Games in London, official Olympic photographers are occasionally turning their cameras away from the athletes and toward notable spectators like Microsoft chairman Bill Gates who watched Roger Federer take on Juan Martin Del Potro.
At this international event where 83-million dollar aircraft are flying overhead and Paul Allen’s yacht, The Octopus, is docked city-side, people watching is popular.
Twenty athletes from Oregon and Southwest Washington are representing the USA. The presence of VIPs and royalty add to the prestige, but also ratchet up the glare of the international spotlight at the events.
Here’s a collection of some of the “who’s who” on the Olympic sidelines.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge enjoy the Track Cycling action on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Velodrome.
Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attends a Basketball game between Brazil and Spain on Day 10 of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Sir Paul McCartney, Stella McCartney and Alasdhair Willis at the women’s Team Pursuit Track Cycling finals on Day 8 at the Velodrome.
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York with her daughters Princess Eugenie (L) and Princess Beatrice enjoy the atmosphere as they watch the Track Cycling on Day 11 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Velodrome.
Queen Margrethe of Denmark watches the men’s doubles Badminton gold medal match between Yun Cai and Haifeng Fu of China and Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen of Denmark on Day 9 of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Prince Daniel of Sweden (R) and Prince Carl Philip of Sweden look on during the men’s Double Trap Shooting final on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at The Royal Artillery Barracks
Prince Harry, Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice watch the Eventing Cross Country Equestrian on Day 3 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Greenwich Park
Prince Harry holds a Kangaroo given to him by Australian athletes as he walks with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, MP Tessa Jowell (L) and Mayor of the Olympic Village Sir Charles Allen (R) during a visit to the Team GB accommodation in the Athletes Village on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Prince Alexander of the Netherlands looks on during the Judo on Day 3 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL.
Footballer David Beckham watches with his son Brooklyn during the men’s Football first round group A match between Great Britain and United Arab Emirates on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium.
Greg Norman, Australian golfer, and his wife Kirsten Kutner (L) watch the men’s singles Tennis match between Andy Murray of Great Britain and Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games in Wimbledon.
The US First Lady, Michelle Obama, is following in the steps of her predecessors Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush, who headed the American delegations to the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, respectively.
Prince Albert II of Monaco presents medals on the podium during the Victory Ceremony following the women’s 400m Freestyle final on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre.
HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales watches Badminton on Day 1 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wembley Arena.
Here’s a story from Today Tonight, an Australian current affairs show, about London’s rich and famous where no expense is spared.
The closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games will be Sunday night.
