Former Olympians star in pro-Romney ad

(CBS News) Kristi Yamaguchi and three other past U.S. Olympians are starring in a new television ad backing Mitt Romney. The ad, produced by the pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future, touts Romney's success running the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

Yamaguchi, who won a gold medal in figure skating in 1992, served as a goodwill ambassador for the 2002 games. The ad also features Derek Parra, the 2002 gold medalist in speed skating; Jimmy Shea, the 2002 gold medalist in the sledding sport of skeleton; and Fraser Bullock, chief operating officer of the 2002 games.

The ad touts Romney's stewardship of the 2002 games, noting that he closed its budget deficit and "delivered the Olympics safe and secure" after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"Mitt Romney brought a huge sense of hope," Yamaguchi says in the ad.

The ad begins airing Tuesday, with the London Olympics underway. It's part of a $7.2 million Olympics ad buy that will air in 11 key states: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin

Romney attended the opening ceremony of this year's games, but he also managed to offend officials in London by saying there were aspects of their Olympic management that were "disconcerting."

[Jaylah54200]

And the next thing we'll hear from Mitt is how the Democrats are creating such a divisive atmosphere over the elections.

Like Olympic gold medal winners say *anything* about politics?

[Souptwins]

They as much right to say what they want about politics as actors. Knowledge certainly doesn't stop them.

[lesserof2evil]

Fortunately I admired Olympians for their athleticism, not for their political view points.

[American72]

Shows what Romney has that Obama lacks: leadership, economic knowledge, young people with sense who like Romney. The blogs by Obama's paid youth are silly, senseless and offensive.

[driveswift]

Those are actually not very young people, and one of them was the COO of the games. Of course he supports Romney bc the IOC made $44 million after Romney secured $1.3 billion in taxpayer money to pay his exorbitant salary. He's a crony capitalist at best, and a corrupt politician when he feels like taking a taxpayer salary.

[Raptorsmasher]

Like Mitt is the only person in history that delivered a successful olympics!

[driveswift]

After registering as a lobbyist and having $1.3 billion secured in taxpayer dollars, they still only made a paltry few million. What a success... If you gave me $1 million and I managed to make $40K out of it would you call me a success?

[Souptwins]

You call $100M a "few paltry"? How many other games had any profit at all? There was also the little thing called 9/11 which turned the budget on it's ear with added security needs.