Catch the sporting action at the 2012 London Games live without breaking your piggy bank
The Olympics kick off on July 27. The world’s biggest sporting extravaganza will see the best athletes on the face of the earth compete for the ultimate high — a gold medal for their country. India too is sending a considerably large contingent this time around in the hope of bettering their Beijing haul. And while Mary Kom, Sushil Kumar, Abhinav Bindra and Vijender Singh take the competition to their rivals at the Olympic venues, you could cheer them on from the sidelines. Here’s how.
A
team of shire horses mows Olympic rings into the grass at Richmond Park
in London. The rings are visible on the flight path to Heathrow
airport, and welcome athletes and visitors to the London 2012 Games
(above), the Torch Relay at the Olympic Rowing Venue on Eton Dorney Lake
(left)
Packaged games
Getting a customised package would be your best bet, if you want to avoid the hassles of planning. Thomas Cook Sport, official sponsors of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, offers ‘Short Breaks’. For those low on cash, choose an event you want to see and opt for their ‘Games Break’ package. Starting at R10,999 (per person on twin sharing basis), it is ideal for the value-conscious fan and includes one night accommodation with breakfast in a budget hotel, an official ticket and a London travel card for the day of the event.
SOTC Sports too is offering customised packages starting at R39,000. “Sports enthusiasts, high net worth individuals and corporate clients are showing interest. Demand is higher for the opening ceremony, hockey and athletic events,” says S D Nandakumar, head, tour operating B2B, Kuoni India.
DIY
Getting a customised package would be your best bet, if you want to avoid the hassles of planning. Thomas Cook Sport, official sponsors of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, offers ‘Short Breaks’. For those low on cash, choose an event you want to see and opt for their ‘Games Break’ package. Starting at R10,999 (per person on twin sharing basis), it is ideal for the value-conscious fan and includes one night accommodation with breakfast in a budget hotel, an official ticket and a London travel card for the day of the event.
SOTC Sports too is offering customised packages starting at R39,000. “Sports enthusiasts, high net worth individuals and corporate clients are showing interest. Demand is higher for the opening ceremony, hockey and athletic events,” says S D Nandakumar, head, tour operating B2B, Kuoni India.
DIY
If you’d like to get a feel of the place, soak in the athletic
atmosphere and attend multiple events on a shoestring budget, exploring
London on your own is an option. Log on to london2012.com and check out
the schedule for the events and venues. Choose which you’d like to catch
and purchase tickets on www.olympic.ind.in.
Now figure out your accommodation. While The Hilton or Meridian may offer five-star facilities, they are unlikely to fit into most budgets. Instead, opt for websites like rentduringthegames.com or rentatthegames.com or londonrentmyhouse.com. You might snag a deal worth every pound. Incidentally, most places on rent are close to the venues, so you save on commute and could run into Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt on the way. Double whammy!
Trivial travel
Once you are there and comfortable, it would be wise to invest in a London Travel Card or an Oyster transit pass. It gives you access to London’s underground trains, buses, trams and overland trains within the city. You also enjoy savings — a standard £2.30 ( R203.48) bus ride will only cost you £1.35 ( R119.44) on an Oyster pass. You could also avail of the Games Travelcard for free travel on public transport on the day of your event. Or consider getting around the city by hopping on a Boris Bike. This cycle hire scheme allows anyone with a credit card to rent a bicycle from its 400 docking stations.
And if visiting the Big Ben or London Eye is on the agenda, londonpass.com deserves a mention. Choose a pass that fits the duration
of your trip and visit the Westminster Abbey, and 54 other spots for
free. And for those looking for the offbeat, visit britainshop.com.
From the Harry Potter Walking Tour to private viewings of Stonehenge, it
offers tourists a glimpse of the unusual at reasonable costs.
Now figure out your accommodation. While The Hilton or Meridian may offer five-star facilities, they are unlikely to fit into most budgets. Instead, opt for websites like rentduringthegames.com or rentatthegames.com or londonrentmyhouse.com. You might snag a deal worth every pound. Incidentally, most places on rent are close to the venues, so you save on commute and could run into Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt on the way. Double whammy!
Trivial travel
Once you are there and comfortable, it would be wise to invest in a London Travel Card or an Oyster transit pass. It gives you access to London’s underground trains, buses, trams and overland trains within the city. You also enjoy savings — a standard £2.30 ( R203.48) bus ride will only cost you £1.35 ( R119.44) on an Oyster pass. You could also avail of the Games Travelcard for free travel on public transport on the day of your event. Or consider getting around the city by hopping on a Boris Bike. This cycle hire scheme allows anyone with a credit card to rent a bicycle from its 400 docking stations.
And if visiting the Big Ben or London Eye is on the agenda, londonpass.com deserves a mention. Choose a pass that fits the duration
of your trip and visit the Westminster Abbey, and 54 other spots for
free. And for those looking for the offbeat, visit britainshop.com.
From the Harry Potter Walking Tour to private viewings of Stonehenge, it
offers tourists a glimpse of the unusual at reasonable costs.
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