Well, since it now seems highly likely that I won't get tickets for the gymnastics at the Olympics, I thought I would provide a link to I-Gym's blog which provided a very useful set of pictures of the 02 arena. Just so I can remind myself what a wholly unsuitable arena this is for a gymnastics competition, if you are a spectator with any interest in the sport at all. I shouldn't feel disappointed at all to miss that aspect of the Olympics!
Goodness, your view could be very limited indeed if you are in the back seats. In fact, I attended some of the World Championships there a couple of years ago, and I must say it was very difficult to get any 'feel' for the competition at all. The gymnasts were exactly like little dots and you couldn't follow facial expressions or any of those small details that make attending a live event so special. So I do have mixed feelings about not spending Ā£450 on two hours' entertainment that might involve the use of binoculars.
Nevertheless, I would have liked to be there. Just for the experience. I guess I might bid for some of the cheaper tickets for Greco Roman wrestling or something in the second round. Perhaps Mr Mustafin will be there, and maybe he could be persuaded to bring his daughter along to demonstrate some handstands or something.
Echoing a post on Stoi!, has anyone who reads this blog managed to secure tickets for any of the Olympic competitions? I know of nobody ... not even friends of friends of friends of somebody posting on the Outer Mongolia gymnastics message board. In fact I probably know more people likely to qualify to compete at the Olympics than those who have tickets.
Oh well, this is 2011 after all. The easiest way to get there is probably to smarm up to some disinterested corporate sponsor and see if they can get you in, or let you have their seat while they have a snooze in the bar. Or you could become a celebrity for a day.
Goodness, your view could be very limited indeed if you are in the back seats. In fact, I attended some of the World Championships there a couple of years ago, and I must say it was very difficult to get any 'feel' for the competition at all. The gymnasts were exactly like little dots and you couldn't follow facial expressions or any of those small details that make attending a live event so special. So I do have mixed feelings about not spending Ā£450 on two hours' entertainment that might involve the use of binoculars.
Nevertheless, I would have liked to be there. Just for the experience. I guess I might bid for some of the cheaper tickets for Greco Roman wrestling or something in the second round. Perhaps Mr Mustafin will be there, and maybe he could be persuaded to bring his daughter along to demonstrate some handstands or something.
Echoing a post on Stoi!, has anyone who reads this blog managed to secure tickets for any of the Olympic competitions? I know of nobody ... not even friends of friends of friends of somebody posting on the Outer Mongolia gymnastics message board. In fact I probably know more people likely to qualify to compete at the Olympics than those who have tickets.
Oh well, this is 2011 after all. The easiest way to get there is probably to smarm up to some disinterested corporate sponsor and see if they can get you in, or let you have their seat while they have a snooze in the bar. Or you could become a celebrity for a day.
I got some tickets for qualifications, but I don't know which subdivision :(
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Albert! Thanks goodness one of us got tickets!
ReplyDelete