analysis

In a world where it feels as though there’s chaos and injustice around every corner, knowing that Obama is in town is just what the doctor ordered.

Edinburgh is used to welcoming the big names during festival season and recently played host to stars such as Leonardo Di Caprio and George Clooney.

But presidents, especially one of Obama’s stature, very rarely venture this far north of London. And a sense of hope – the kind that so often followed Obama through his political life – was in the air outside Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

Crowds began to gather in the boiling sun from early afternoon, hoping to catch a glimpse of the former US president, who wasn’t due to make his speech until 7.15.

Security was tight. There were armed officers on surrounding rooftops, a helicopter circled overhead and police could be seen everywhere you turned.

Nobody, not even the police, knew what the plan for Obama’s arrival was, such is the secrecy of an important figure. By 5pm a crowd of hundreds had gathered, many of whom had travelled from across Scotland in the hope of seeing Obama’s arrival – a man I spoke to, dressed in an Obama T-shirt his son had bought for him in the States, had come from just outside Prestwick; a couple had travelled up from the Borders to see Obama step out of his car; and another man, claiming to have travelled all the way from Japan to see him (despite America having been closer to Japan for the whole of Obama’s presidency) was disappointed to learn he couldn’t buy a ticket.

I, on the other hand, have become a pro at just missing out on Obama after several of his events I tried to attend in the States in 2012 were cancelled to the public at the last minute.

True to form, I missed out yet again yesterday, along with the hundreds of others who had taken the day off work in the hope of getting a wave from the former president.

It would have been disappointing if the curse had been broken, to be honest.