Full price babies at the Olympics

[littlepinklizard]

I'm shocked by the conversation I just had with the London 2012 ticketing poeple. My dh and I were lucky enough to get tickets to the horse jumping on 8 August. Our baby is due 2 June, so was enquiring about what I need to do about tickets for the new baby.

They said eveyone needs a ticket - fine.
Children's tickets are £1 - fine.
But there are no children's tickets for the horse jumping so I have to pay £95 to have a 3 month old in a sling!!!
I said I was planning to bf and couldn't go without the baby.
They said the only alternative was to re-sell my ticket or give it to someone else.

I can't justify £95 and I know lots of people who would love the ticket so I guess I just have to transfer it. But I am fuming.

AIBU or are the 2012 people?

i have had to sign up and log in just tonight to add my 2 pence worth.
i have got olympic tickets. i purchased my families tickets for a number of events knowing full well that i was paying full price for my 2 + 4 year old children. my 2 yr old daughter is disabled and will not need her own seat at all, but as i knew i would be taking her, i had to pay. this is not a case of whether i agree with it, i certainly dont, but the 2012 website has clearly stated its rules, terms and conditions on its website. and there ARE plenty of events where the child only pays their age in £'s.
as for all the imbesiles saying its discriminatory or illegal or neglectful, how about seeing from the side of the people in my position, who HAVE paid for their 'established' children, why should other people then take their children/babies into the events for free? is that not discrimination against the large number of hard working parents who agree to bite the bullet and just get on with it.

I'm a long time lurker and hardly ever post. Having seen how badly this thread kicked off, I stayed out of it. Then I saw the out cry in the paper.

Like deeteepee, I don't get it. Discrimination, illegality and neglectful ... are you all out of your minds?

The OP has a choice, she is not being discriminated against, she can either leave her baby behind or sell her tickets on. The OP wants everything her own way right now for a person who was not even in existence when the tickets were sold.

The only discriminatory thing going on here is the OP being offered a ticket at all. Where has this ticket come from? My family and I completely missed out on tickets. We got nothing in the oriignal bid and the resale. My DD is horse mad and would die to see the show jumping. I love horses too and would like to see it. As far as I was aware there are no olympic tickets left and you log on to the webiste there is nothing for sale. But the OP was offered another ticket .......! If there are tickets available they should be sold to the people who didn't get them not give them to people who weren't conceived at the time of sale. it is discriminatory and unfair not to.

So a victory for mums and common sense

Dear London 2012 Customer,
Further to your enquiry regarding babes in arms we are pleased to advise you of the following:
Babes in arms, aged 12 months and under, will be permitted access to London 2012 venues without a ticket if they are securely strapped to their parent or carer by way of a baby carrier, sling, papoose or similar. This policy applies to all London 2012 venues except Wembley Stadium, St James? Park, Old Trafford and North Greenwich Arena which have existing licensing agreements whereby spectators must have a ticket no matter their age.
We would advise that parents think carefully before bringing their baby to the Games. The transport system will be busy, there will be queues at venues and some venues may be hot.
Parents of babies must adhere to the LOCOG bag policy which is one bag per ticket holder which must be able to fit under the seat. In addition they will need to adhere to the food and drink policies for spectators.
Buggies/pushchairs cannot be taken into the venues, but they can be left at the buggy parks which are located close to the venues.
Our babes in arms policy only covers babes in arms aged 12 months and under. Other children will require a ticket at all venues.
If you have any further queries please check our frequently asked questions.
With kind regards,

London 2012 Ticketing team

I think children tickets should be 50k each, that way the people who are there because they actually want to will be able to enjoy it in peace.

A victory for fairness and common sense. Will be going along with baby aged approx 10 weeks old

I wouldn't take a baby to one of these events anyway. It will be massively crowded, probably very hot, there probably won't be anywhere or any space to change them (and if there is there will be a huge queue). I have been to Wembley when it has been full. No way would I take a baby or toddler to anything like that, far too much chance of getting hurt or overheating in a crowd, plus long journey on public transport to get there, again in crowded tube. Luckily my ds will be about 14 months by the time of the Olympics, so he is staying with gps for the day. If not I would rather not go than take him.

You get a better view on TV anyway!

Well the event I'm going to is outdoors and not in London. I have no qualms about taking a baby and I'm glad I now have the choice.

I reckon it will be far easier taking a baby than the 5 and 3yo's I'm taking thanks to the bank of Grandma.

It's going to be interesting getting them across London I have to say.

If you haven't got a ticket for your child you could always dress up your little one as a soldier as they seem to be needed to fill all the spaces!!
My daughters ticket was £2 and my son £7 we are going tomorrow and soooooooo excited. I have to say staying at home to watch the Olympics has been nice and easy but I haven't felt this excited for ages! Getting out of the house with the kids will be fab :) and my plan is too keep them quite with lots of food (chocolate medals balanced by lots of fruit). They can always go for a walk around the arena with my better half if they get a bit bored, and hopefully all the cheering will be louder than them! I'm taking the pram as the 2 year old will be tired in the afternoon! The Olympics is here and I am soooo happy to be going :) Not looking forward to the silly time we have to get up though!

This is a very old thread. Policy has changed and babes in arms go free with their parents.