It’s quite an odd feeling wishing you don’t get everything you’ve paid for (value for money and all that), but that’s exactly how I feel about my London 2012 Olympics tickets. Clearly, I want to attend everything I’ve bid on (and am rather damned excited about it), I just fear I may have gotten a tad carried away, justifying it to myself as a ‘once in a lifetime’ expenditure. Which of course it is, just unfortunately it hasn’t come at a particularly financially comfortable point in my lifetime.
Somewhat irritatingly, the money will come out of my account before I know what I’ve been allocated. All I know is that it’ll be up to the value of…pain. A painful amount. I’m not knocking the system; in fact, I think a ballot is the fairest way to ensure everyone gets a punt at affordable tickets. It’s just it would’ve been nice to find out exactly what that money’s going on instantly so I can start thinking about re-sales and future bidding, rather than be kept guessing for a month.
I’m definitely all in favour of carpe diem (or seizing a fortnight next year) when it comes to something as big and exciting as the Olympics landing in your very own beloved city. So with blatant disregard for any copyright rules on Graham’s blog, here are the events we’ve bid on:
Friday 27th July 2012
1930-2230: Opening Ceremony, Olympic Stadium
Saturday 28th July
1000-1615: Cycling Road Race, Putney (passing through)
1445-1815: Volleyball, Earls Court
1930-2135: Swimming, Aquatics Centre
Sunday 29th July
0930-1245: Artistic Gymnastics, O2
1700-2145: Football, Wembley Stadium
Monday 30th July
Free Day
Tuesday 31st July
1900-2245: Hockey, Hockey Centre
Wednesday 1st August
1000-1305: Swimming, Aquatics Centre
1430-1630: Table Tennis, ExCeL
2000-2350: Beach Volleyball, Horse Guards Parade
Thursday 2nd August
1200-2000: Tennis, Wimbledon Centre Court
Friday 3rd August
1000-1345: Athletics, Olympic Stadium
1600-1855: Track Cycling, Velodrome
Saturday 4th August
1000-1345: Athletics, Olympic Stadium
1430-1830: Basketball, Basketball Arena
1820-2100: Water Polo, Water Polo Arena
Sunday 5th August
0830-1215: Hockey, Hockey Centre
1500-1640: Synchronised Swimming, Aquatics Centre
1850-2155: Athletics, Olympic Stadium
Monday 6th August
Free Day
Tuesday 7th August
Free Day
Wednesday 8th August
1900-2210: Diving, Aquatics Centre
Thursday 9th August
Free Day
Friday 10th August
1500-1720: BMX Cycling, BMX Circuit
1900-2140: Athletics, Olympic Stadium
Saturday 11th August
1500-1730: Football, Wembley Stadium
Sunday 12th August
1930-2230: Closing Ceremony, Olympic Stadium
It’s no exaggeration to say that this agenda took hours of planning (potential venue clashes), mastering (if we hedge our bets with the range of ticket prices, will we get a few finals?) and a lot of compromising (“I’ll give you BMX and Beach Volleyball if you give me Artistic Gymnastics and Synchronised Swimming”).
With the funds due to be extracted next Monday 16th, I’ll be waiting, like the majority of the UK’s loyal sports fans, with baited breath. And extended overdrafts.
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