Not the best start for US presidential candidate Mitt Romney's trip to the UK

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney enters Number 10 Credit: REUTERS/Jason Reed

The Republican US presidential candidate Mitt Romney's trip to the UK did not get off to the best start after he told NBC News on Wednesday evening that there were "disconcerting" signs around the Games:

Mr Romney who will attending the Olympics opening ceremony on Friday, said:

But after his discussions with Prime Minister David Cameron in 10 Downing Street, the Republican presidential hopeful back tracked and was full of praise for London's preparations.

Mr Romney told reporters:

He was also full of praise for the London organisers' efforts to involve as many people as possible in the Olympic experience.

But he is likely to regret this turn of phrase:

Speaking ahead of a special Olympics concert in Hyde Park, London's Mayor Boris Johnson said:

Boris Johnson telling Hyde Park, and the world, London will host the 'best-ever' Games Credit: Pool

Earlier, David Cameron faced questions about Mr Romney's comments at an eve-of-Games press conference with organiser Sebastian Coe at the Olympic Park and said:

But some observers thought the PM may be drawing a pointed contrast with Mr Romney's own experience as chief executive of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002 when he said:

Mitt Romney, was the chief executive of Salt Lake City's Olympic organising committee, Credit: Reuters

This prompted the following response from a spokesman for Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker:

Mr Romney's visit to London also took in talks with Chancellor George Osborne, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Labour leader Ed Miliband, former PM Tony Blair and MI6 chief Sir John Sawers.

There was some speculation on Twitter that he might have momentarily forgotten Mr Miliband's name, after he addressed him in front of the TV cameras as "Mr Leader".

The shaky start to Mitt Romney's foreign trip was also picked up by US media.

The Washington Post reports he ended up "getting dissed" by Boris Johnson.

But the paper is also quick to point out the parts of the preparations that haven't exactly gone to plan.

The Presidential hopeful will need to work a bit harder to show he has got what it takes to represent the US on the world stage.