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Original poster

2012 Olympics, will you go?

24 replies

ragged · 15/10/2010 23:15

Until now I kind of thought that we would try to attend some of the events, but looking at the ticket prices, imagining what hotels will cost, being sure that that it will be much better viewing on telly rather than from inside the actual venues, plus all the other hassle factors I personally have...

Is it worth it? Unless you're rolling in dosh or already have a cheap bed to stay in London, or are extremely keen on a sport or have access to free tickets... I can imagine that very few "ordinary" people will attend.

Was it always thus, was I very slow to figure that out?

OP posts:

scurryfunge · 15/10/2010 23:20

I don't think £50 per ticket is too expensive.

I am hoping to rent out my house to people wanting to view and then disappear for a month.

maktaitai · 15/10/2010 23:32

I won't see much of it I hope, as I have applied to be a volunteer - can't wait!

I don't think £20 for a ticket is too bad, if you pick your event - under 16s pay their age. I'd agree though that you'd be looking at £100 for one event for a family, so it would have to be something you really want to see.

One of the events I've chosen to apply for is the triathlon, and you can see that free I think, also the marathon, maybe the sailing?

There might be big screens for some of the events maybe?

indiewitch · 15/10/2010 23:36

I'd like to take dd1 to the gymnastics but I'm wondering how much we'd see for £20. Will probably pay up to £50 but no more. Will be giving the 100m final a miss!

sharbie · 15/10/2010 23:38

yh once in a lifetime - dcs will go

Original poster

ragged · 15/10/2010 23:41

How much would you hope to rent your house out for?

Maybe not so bad if it was just DH & our 12yo DS who went, I am reckoning that'd be typically £174-£250/day (assuming they stayed at TravelLodge for £100/night, and attendance at 2 different events, that might be overly optimistic to fit in one day), and not including costs for travel, food or souvenirs (could easily be another £100+).

Still, we are not used to spending that sort of money for a day out!

OP posts:

Original poster

ragged · 15/10/2010 23:45

Much of the road races (cycling) must be viewable for free... as that's in the streets of London :).
Concessions (child under 16 paying their age) only applies to some events, not the Equestrian, Track Cycling or Judo finals, for instance.

And how good will the viewing be for the cheapest tickets, I wonder?

I went to 1984 Olympics, so feel like I want DC to experience it, but.... ugh. Mucha mucha mula.

OP posts:

scurryfunge · 16/10/2010 00:24

I am not sure what the going rate for rental would be yet.

We are 35mins on rail line to Stratford.......will see.

throckenholt · 16/10/2010 09:00

I had it in mind to take my 3 (who will be 11 and 9) to see at least one live event - it would be a day trip so would have to factor in the costs of travel too.

But given those ticket prices I think it unlikely - which is sad because it is a once in a lifetime thing and it would be good to be part of it. So I guess we'll end up watching a lot of tv.

zombishambles · 16/10/2010 09:03

We will go to as much as we can afford - we will use our holiday money for 2012 to pay for it.

Butterbur · 16/10/2010 15:04

I will be taking DD to see some of the gymnastics too I expect - probably not the final though. I would pay about £50 a ticket too. I expect DH will want to take the DSs to something too. We live in a commutable distance though, so not hotels for us.

foxinsocks · 16/10/2010 15:12

I can't wait

I am hoping one of the dcs might get tickets through school

I think there is some cycling event happening through the Royal Parks which is free so we will watch that.

Would love tickets for athletics, rowing and gymnastic

PandaNot · 16/10/2010 15:15

We'll be taking our children, it will be our 'holiday' that year. DH is hoping he's going to be selected to referee!

pagwatch · 16/10/2010 15:15

The tickets for the athletics start at £275 so that would be a grand for us for the best tickets. which is pretty bloody eye watering.

I have the price list if anyone wants to know any of them ( although it may be on line of course)

zombishambles · 16/10/2010 15:26

pag the athletics start at £150 dont they - in fact I thought they started a bit lower than that but £150 were the ones I had my eye on - will check the list again.

Mind you it will be a ballot anyway like Wimbledon and am very unlucky in those.

otherwise I would like to go to the gym, swimming or track cycling - we watch and like all sport

pagwatch · 16/10/2010 15:33

yes, sorry - they have cheaper tickets than that..

cheapest on finals days seem to be £50. But on days with heats and semis they start at £20.

I didn't mean to make it sound as if £200 plus was cheapest

And actually I had clearly blanked the horror of it.. Super finals days ( assume 100meters etc) highest price is £750

pagwatch · 16/10/2010 15:34

They also have 200 events where over 60s pay £16 and children pay their age! what a fab idea

TeamEdward · 16/10/2010 15:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

queribus · 16/10/2010 17:32

I'll definitely go if I can get tickets cycling, rowing, gymnastics, swimming - probably give the athletics a miss.

I'm 40 in 2012 so it's my big treat and will be a once in a lifetime thing too. I really hope it's worth all the money, though ...

whyamibothering · 16/10/2010 17:43

My son will probably be too young for London 2012 - he's 16 now and currently ranked no 1 in UK for his event.

If he was successful or even in Brazil for 2016, does anyone know if parents get free admission or discounted admission.

I'm saving up for Brazil 2016 - if my son was there I'd willingly spend every last penny - but I'm genuinely interested to know whether family get first refusal of tickets or any relvant information

FranSanDisco · 16/10/2010 17:47

We definitely want to go and see swimming, diving, athletics, cycling, everything really.

maktaitai · 17/10/2010 00:00

wow whyami - how amazing! surely there must be some tickets for athletes' families?

notyummy · 19/10/2010 09:31

Hell yes, I am going.

DH has already agreed that I will take the day off work when the tickets are released in March to hit the phone/internet! We have pre-registered our interest in quite a few sports. DD will be 6 and we have watched quite a few sports with her already, and she particularly enjoyed gymnastics, diving and cycling.

We aren't skint, but not loaded either...and DH in the forces and has already been told that he probably wont get leave. A lot of forces people will be busy doing security stuff. Hopefully he may get some days off that will coincide with our tickets. I wouldn't take a loan out or anything like that, but would be happy to spend 2/3K on tickets/accn for something we will never experience again.

notyummy · 19/10/2010 09:33

Oh, just seen mention of ballot - in which case my plans of sitting on the phone/computer are not needed!

NetworkGuy · 18/03/2011 13:09

I know this is an old thread and there have been some in topic areas, but it might be worth mentioning there was a brief piece on Radio 4 "You and Yours" today about the various items which you will not be permitted to take in with you.

Some newspapers suggest that apart from baby food, the public are blocked from taking in food, alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, liquids in excess of 100 ml, and then there's a very long (non-exhaustive list) of other items (whistles, etc) that LOCOG has on the web site, but from Y+Y tickets to individual events will have another set of specific restrictions.

The web site says "We are proud to accept only Visa. For more information on how to obtain a Visa product..." so you cannot buy tickets, or food or drink with MasterCard or Amex card, as Visa is a big sponsor.

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