Photograph by: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images,

When I first heard that spectators were complaining about the fence around the Olympic cauldron, I immediate thought, “All that money and the organizers put a crappy fence around the iconic Olympic flame?” I mean really, couldn’t they have afforded a security guard or two instead? Fortunately, organizers corrected this design oversight and made the area around the cauldron more visitor friendly.

I am however quite surprised organizers didn’t think of the people who would actually visit the site in the first place. Clearly, the organizers’ concerns were with how the cauldron looked on tv, as well as avoiding potential lawsuits. Such a shame. Although I understand these concerns, organizers failed to think about the long-term opportunity: These folks travelled a long way – at great expense – to have an authentic Olympic experience. Instead of alienating them, organizers should have thought of these visitors as partners. After all, once these visitors return home, their stories and images will remain long after the corporate partners have rolled up their tents. These lasting images will remind them of their Olympic experience and remind friends of what they missed. I’m sure the value of this free advertising far outweighs the money saved by putting up a crappy fence.