For the moment, Olympics organizers say they are confident that attendance will pick up next week.

So many groups have expressed interest in spreading their messages around Salt Lake City that Olympics organizers have created official protest zones for the first time.

(Even with those hotels finished on time, Olympics organizers say, the region may still be short almost 15,000 hotel beds during the Games.)

Olympics organizers scrambled to recruit school bus drivers and anyone they could find to handle Olympic traffic.

"No one, of course, expects the Olympics organizers to control the weather or to prepare the meals of athletes themselves," it said.

When television broadcasters asked for different lighting, security officials wanted more soldiers and athletic groups suggested add-ons and changes, the Olympics organizers agreed.

In response, Olympics organizers have promised to increase surveillance and the size of their security patrols.

For example, Olympics organizers recently announced there will be seven official protest zones for the dozens of groups planning demonstrations.

The message about his withdrawal wasn't sent by Estonian sports officials to the Olympics organizers so Estonian flag was still represented at the opening ceremony.