Charlotte: Due to severe weather forecast, venue of speech by US President Barack Obama at the Democratic national convention tomorrow has been shifted from a 70,000-seater football stadium to a smaller indoor auditorium, organisers said today.
The move from the official of the Democratic national convention and the Obama campaign came with the forecasts predicting thunderstorms Thursday night when Obama was to deliver his presidential nomination acceptance speech.
As a result of the decision tens of thousands of the Obama supporters would be disappointed as they can no longer be accommodated at the Time Warner Cable Arena, which has a capacity of over 20,000.
While the Bank of America stadium where Obama`s speech was earlier scheduled had a capacity of 70,000.
"We have been monitoring weather forecasts closely and several reports predict thunderstorms in the area, therefore we have decided to move Thursday`s proceedings to Time Warner Cable Arena to ensure the safety and security of our delegates and convention guests," said Democratic national convention committee CEO Steve Kerrigan.
"The energy and enthusiasm for our convention in Charlotte has been overwhelming and we share the disappointment of over 65,000 people who signed up for community credentials to be there with the President in person.
We encourage our community credential holders and Americans across the country to continue to come together with their friends and neighbors to watch and participate in history," he said.
"The President will speak to these credential holders on a national conference call tomorrow afternoon, and we will work with the campaign to ensure that those unable to attend tomorrow`s event will be invited to see the President between now and Election Day," Kerrigan said.
PTI
