How do you feel about the olympics?

**Faith** · 21-05-2012, 08:14pm

I'm in London and it feels totally inaccessible to us too, because we can't get tickets. We've applied and applied but I think unless you had applied for thousands if pounds worth in the initial round (which I would have, had I known what a palaver it would be) , or you're extremely lucky, you don't have a chance.

We are totally into sport, and would love to see loads of stuff, but we'll be watching it on the telly like everyone else in the world. Particularly annoying as we are within walking distance of several venues, and can see the Olympic village from the top of our hill.

Both dd's are very involved with several sports, and local children's teams aren't even getting anything. I believe Londoners are paying slightly more towards the games tax wise, but we are seeing no benefits (priority tickets, for example) , just the downside of living in the city while it's all going on around us.

**Cymber** · 21-05-2012, 08:15pm

I would have liked to have seen the torch arriving here, but we were at a wedding on Saturday, so couldn't go to the celebrations.

I've watched swimming in the past, I remember some really amazing swimmer last time around (possibly) - who would that have been? So might check that out again.

**parkejm** · 21-05-2012, 08:15pm

I'm really worried about terrorists seizing the opportunity to cause a devastating incident. I don't know how likely it is but I'm very nervous of it. Obviously I'm nowhere near the action but even so.

I am really hoping that the authorities/organisers don't cock it all up too.

I think once it's started I'll really enjoy it

**Cymber** · 21-05-2012, 08:16pm

Originally Posted by Faith

Both dd's are very involved with several sports, and local children's teams aren't even getting anything. I believe Londoners are paying slightly more towards the games tax wise, but we are seeing no benefits (priority tickets, for example) , just the downside of living in the city while it's all going on around us.

That's rubbish, isn't it?

**bubbasweet** · 21-05-2012, 08:18pm

The games aren't really any more accessible to Londoners than to the rest of the UK population. They get all the inconvenience (massive increase in people using an already over-stretched public transport system, and significant road closures) and very little benefit, and have no more access to tickets than anyone else. As for the legacy of having the venues, well depending on where you lived in London it could take you an hour or more to get there, so you're you're unlikely to pop to the aquatic centre for a swim one afternoon

That said, I am moderately interested - there's some events I'd watch irrespective of location - cycling, diving, BMX etc. Most exciting of all, though, is that the cycling time trials event is going right past my house, so I can watch from my front garden

I suppose looking at the positives, you have to look at all the tourism revenue this will raise, albeit mostly localised to the south-east of the country, but it'll also fill up the national tax coffers. It has cost a lot to put the games on, but when you look at the wider revenue streams it'll probably pay for itself in many ways. People always grumble about how much the Royal Family cost the country, but the tourism revenue generated by their existence easily outweighs what we as a nation pay each year.

**Faith** · 21-05-2012, 08:23pm

Lady Leah, how come you get tickets through work? Seems unfair (not having a go at you, just the ticketing system), when athletes families can't get tickets, or young children actually involved in the sports can't go and see it. You'd think if they can offer people working for governing bodies tickets, they could offer local clubs a few tickets.

Seems to me theres more concern about keeping the corporate bods happy, and sod the general public. I shall be so, so peed off if there's loads of empty corporate seats...

**Rosa** · 21-05-2012, 08:28pm

I'm not really in to sports etc so I'm not excited about the Olympics

**January** · 21-05-2012, 08:30pm

I'm bored with the Olympics already and have long been utterly enraged at the Olympic council tax levy forcibly imposed on Londoners.

**Mrs B** · 21-05-2012, 08:30pm

I'm looking forward to it enormously. The torch is coming to about mile away from my house, the kids are getting excited about it through school activities, and of course we're hosting the sailing. Don't have tickets but we'll go down to the beach, they're showing the races on big screens there. We won't ever see a spectacle like this again and we plan to enjoy it.

I love watching certain events on tv too - rowing, gymnastics, athletics. And the opening/closing ceremonies too.

I do understand about the money being "wasted" on it, but as a community we've benefited enormously already and anything that can improve the job situation down here can only be a good thing.

**bubbasweet** · 21-05-2012, 08:31pm

Originally Posted by Faith

Seems to me theres more concern about keeping the corporate bods happy, and sod the general public. I shall be so, so peed off if there's loads of empty corporate seats...

And apparently that is the case... I might be making it up, but I'm sure I heard a figure of 20,000 unsold corporate tickets. I presume it was all allocated years ago before all the anti-bribery legislation was introduced, not to mention companies cutting back because of the recession.