As you read this, there are now only 499 days left until the Games of the XXX Olympiad.
In other words, the already much-talked about London 2012 Olympics are practically upon us.
And to celebrate the ‘500 Days to Go’ milestone, London 2012 yesterday opened its online applications for competition tickets – one of sports most precious commodities.
Not be left out of the festivities was Barbados.
At a joint Barbados Olympic Association/British High Commission press conference yesterday, local officials of the Olympic and Paralympic movement joined with UK government officials to usher in what they collectively termed a “a key date in the Olympic movement.”
“We want to share these Games with everyone around the world, including the people of Barbados,” said Phil Culligan, Deputy British High Commissioner.
Relaying a message from British Prime Minister, David Cameron, Culligan added: “Beyond 2012, we want to ensure these games deliver a strong legacy, not just by regenerating a part of East London, but by boosting our national economy. However and most importantly, the aim is to inspire a new generation to get active and get involved in sports.”
Across the globe yesterday, international sales agents officially began receiving requests for Games tickets. Barbadians, however, will have to go through the secretariat of the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA).
“As has been our practice in the past, the BOA has appointed Cartan Tours International to be our official travel agent”, Cameron Burke, Barbados’ Chief de Mission for London 2012, said.
“Their staff has thoroughly investigated accommodations, transportation and locations in the London area. They have developed various travel programs for multiple needs, budgets and desires. We are extremely satisfied that this company pays considerable attention to detail which ensures our patrons of an enjoyable Olympic Games.”
Burke, who highlighted that time was of the essence, said that persons wishing to attend the Games must make a request through the BOA via its email address – info@olympic.org.bb.
“These requests will then be forwarded to the ticket agent who will subsequently contact you. To start the process, a deposit of US$250 must be lodged with Cartan Tours. Having competed the transaction with our agent, tickets can then be collected on arrival in London from the Cartan Tours office.”
One downside from a Barbadian perspective was the lack of tickets available for events such as basketball, swimming, cycling and gymnastics – not to mention the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Games, the two marquee non-sporting events.
With the 2012 Games being held in London, it is seen as the first viable opportunity many Barbadians have ever had of making their dreams of attending an Olympic Games a reality – certainly not since the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
To this end, Burke said the BOA was cognizant of the wishes of the many Barbadian citizens who have already expressed an interest in attending the Games.
“Although the BOA has been allotted a reasonable amount of tickets for track and field . . . we did not receive a significant amount of ‘Prime Time’ tickets – tickets for the Opening and Closing ceremonies, basketball, swimming, cycling and gymnastics. However, we are appealing to the organizers to increase our allocations.”
Burke will be attending a Chief de Mission meeting in August in London to review plans and programmes as well as visit some of the venues, including the highly-touted Games village.
Steve Stoute, long-standing president of the BOA, along with Erskine Simmons, the BOA’s Secretary General, were recently in the United Kingdom where they had an opportunity to tour the Olympic Park – 75 per cent of which is reported to be already complete.
“We were able to tour the Olympic Park and we were extremely impressed with the sports venues and the neighboring Olympic village. Barbados is very much looking forward to being a part of the 2012 Olympic Games in London,” he said.
The 2012 Sumer Olympic Games will take place in London from July 27 to August 12. London will become the first city to officially host the modern Olympic Games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948.
The 2012 Summer Olympic programme features 26 sports with a total of 38 disciplines while the 2012 Paralympic Games, which will run between August 29 and September 9, will include 20 sports with a total of 21 disciplines.
