evacuate

英スコットランドのデーリー・レコード（電子版）がロンドン五輪サッカー男子の日本代表の選手がホテルの室内でボールをスプリンクラーに命中させて作動させ、床や家具などを水浸しにして，８万ポンド（約１千万円）の損害を与えたと報じました。少し子どもじみていますが誰が責任を取るかという問題よりも，あれから随分と経っているわけなのでここはしっかりと「フェアプレー」に徹して，当座の立て替えでも良いので，払うべきものは直ちに支払ってほしいものです。日本オリンピック委員会や日本サッカー協会の品格はこういうところで試されます。

evacuateは「立ち退かせる，避難させる，救出する」の意味が先に浮かびますが，「部屋などを空ける，空にする」という意味もあります。つまり修復のため営業ができなかったことを意味します。（UG）

Japanese Olympic football team cause £80k damage in Glasgow hotel after ball set off sprinkler

THE rooms in Glasgow's Marriott Hotel had to be evacuated and renovated after a Japanese footballer set off the sprinkler system and caused flooding damage.

A JAPANESE footballer caused £80,000 of damage after a cheeky kickaround in a Scottish hotel.

The player, a member of the Japanese Olympic team, kicked the ball into a sprinkler and set off the system, flooding rooms. The rooms had to be evacuated and renovated, racking up a bill that is still unsettled.

The Marriott Hotel in Glasgow has been in talks with Olympics organisers LOCOG and the Japan football authorities after a row broke out over who was liable for the damage.
An insider said: “It was an accident but it caused chaos.

“One sprinkler being activated set off the whole floor and the results were catastrophic.
“Afterwards the hotel was looking to be paid for the damage and LOCOG were in dispute with the Japanese squad about who should pay.
“They still haven’t sorted it out.”

The Japanese team spent time in Glasgow before their match at Hampden against world champions Spain. The source said: “The Japanese squad booked 25 rooms, with 23 rooms for the players, coaching staff and officials.

“Two rooms were stripped of all furniture, one to be used as a kit storage room, the other as a medical treatment room. During their stay one of the footballers began booting a ball around the medical room.

“He hit the sprinkler unit in the ceiling. All told the water damage came to £80,000.” Last night, LOCOG said: “Following some accidental damage we are currently in amicable discussions with all the parties involved, including the hotel, and are confident the issue will be resolved shortly.” A Marriott spokeswoman said: “An issue did arise that we are dealing with but we have no further comment to make.”

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/japanese-olympic-football-team-cause-1370402