Tickets for the Equestrian Olympics

[Judgemental]

Is it just me, or is it the case as I am told by many people, that they have found it impossible to obtain tickets for the Equestrian Olympics?

By that I mean all the 'little people'. Depends how one defines little people but simply the ordinary folk, who are not over paid dodgy bankers and the like, who are on some sort of hospitality gravy train, the great and the very very good etc.

No doubt I will receive shrieks of derision, that I should not have the temerity to think the ordinary people should have tickets, or '"don't be silly we all have tickets, what stone have you been under JM".

Reading the shambles that purports to be the so-called security, I am wondering if I really want any tickets and will be better off watching it all on the television.

Does anybody know which of our esteemed TV channels is featuring the equestrians, or will I be similarly told, “I must have been under some stone not to know?”

Anyway, why are the Equestrians being held at Greenwich? Not very practical from the point of view of access.

What happens if the going is too wet in Greenwich Park?

 

[combat_claire]

I'm a little person (very little if you ask my huntsman!) and I got tickets via the first ballot. At first I thought it was just going to be me and Col. Gaddaffi's son attending, but I now know of a handful of other ordinary folk who have obtained tickets for the event.

It would have been nice if it had been the UK olympics rather than everything being london-centric but hey ho, that is just sour grapes as my folks live almost on the door step of Burghley!!

 

[Attie]

I got some tickets at 5 am this morning for eventing - the final day. So it's def worth keep trying the website. I've been trying for weeks but nothing and suddenly there were some. Can't quite believe it!

 

[Judgemental]

I'm a little person (very little if you ask my huntsman!) and I got tickets via the first ballot. At first I thought it was just going to be me and Col. Gaddaffi's son attending, but I now know of a handful of other ordinary folk who have obtained tickets for the event.

It would have been nice if it had been the UK olympics rather than everything being london-centric but hey ho, that is just sour grapes as my folks live almost on the door step of Burghley!!

First ballot, what ballot?

Quite, the location is absurd, the equestrians should be held at Badminton or Gatcombe.

 

[combat_claire]

The one last year when you could apply for what you wanted. I only put in for cross country and surprisingly in the resulting chaos I got a ticket.

 

[Judgemental]

The one last year when you could apply for what you wanted. I only put in for cross country and surprisingly in the resulting chaos I got a ticket.

I see where you are coming from - well done.

Have only just spotted that there is an Olympic Forum - still us hunting types buried deep in the countryside, tend to take our own line - pun intended.

I see somebody is saying the going at Greenwich is ok in another thread.

Does that mean it is safe, that's the primary consideration? There's soft and then there is soft to bottomless once cut up and when only half a dozen horses have competed it becomes dangerous.


If this rain does not stop there needs to be some serious contingency arrangements.

 

[Bernster]

Nice to see you back J - wondered where you'd got to

I doubt there is much in the way of contingencies other than cross fingers and hope. A few sunny days forecast are between now and then but who knows what will happen if the ground becomes too bog like.

I didn't get any tickets at the first 2 attempts but I've managed to get them recently by randomly searching the website now and again. Have in fact got 4 sets now as they pop up all the time due to resale tickets going back on again. Just pot luck (and a maxed out credit card).

 

[combat_claire]

Seb Coe in the Telegraph is advising equestrian spectators to wear their wellies...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ol...ure-going-to-equestrian-or-rowing-events.html

I'm starting to share Judgemental's pessimism about the ground suitability. I'm going to be the numpty wearing my wellies across central London as the luggage limits and no left luggage facility will make it impossible to carry another pair of shoes..

 

[Lucyad]

I will be the numpty wearing my wellies all the way from Glasgow airport, as they won't fit in my baggage! Though of course they are standard summer wear up here, so certainly for the first leg the the journey no one will take a second glance.

I got tickets for the last day of the eventing and the first day of the dressage in the first ballot - now trying my best to add some xc tickets to get good use of my wellies.

 

[combat_claire]

I will be the numpty wearing my wellies all the way from Glasgow airport, as they won't fit in my baggage! Though of course they are standard summer wear up here, so certainly for the first leg the the journey no one will take a second glance.

Hah! Don't feel so bad now! At least Olympic spectators for these sports will be easily spotted!

 

[Deborahm]

I also got tickets in the first ballot and I'm a little person too

 

[Judgemental]

Nice to see you back J - wondered where you'd got to

I doubt there is much in the way of contingencies other than cross fingers and hope. A few sunny days forecast are between now and then but who knows what will happen if the ground becomes too bog like.

I didn't get any tickets at the first 2 attempts but I've managed to get them recently by randomly searching the website now and again. Have in fact got 4 sets now as they pop up all the time due to resale tickets going back on again. Just pot luck (and a maxed out credit card).

Hello Bernster thank you for the welcome. I wish I could say the same welcome is universal on the Olympic board where I have clearly not been met with universal approbation concerning various points.

Have been away since May trying to make a bob or two.

Taking an overview of the fact the Olympics are at Greenwich and judging by the variety of posts on the Olympic Board, describing the most complicated plans for folk to make their way to the venue. One does feel that yet again the urban decision makers have 'railroaded' the rural classes yet again.

In exactly the same way we have all been 'railroaded' where hunting is concerned and now the dairy farmers, are having to bear the brunt of urban decision making, with .04 pence slashed off the price of a litre of milk!

 

[Tillypup]

I'm a nobody, country bumpkin, I applied for tickets when they first became available and managed to get 4 tickets for the cross country.

I don't really believe it is all that complicated to work out how to get there on the day, the tickets come with a travel card and a very useful leaflet giving details of local stations, where to get in, even the location of the toilets on site.

I've been to many many equestrian events of all descriptions over the years, I was lucky enough to go the the Barcelona Olympics 20 years ago (not the equestrian though)! I'm very excited about the opportunity to attend the Games in my home country, I am looking forward to being part of the "buzz" as we make our way to the venue, equally I shall be pleased to return to Suffolk in the evening as one day of London is usually enough for me!