REALLY annoyed with Olympic Schedule

I've just gotten an email from London2012 saying the full olympic schedule and price list has been released.  So I click it and all it says is something like

"Basketball Prelims Session A (2 games) - £90 - £60 - £40 - £20"

All it says is what the session is.  Now, as the qualifying tournaments for basketball, football, etc haven't been carried out, how am I possibly going to know which session to apply for tickets??

I don't want to go watch Bosnia play Spain.  I want to watch the USA play anyone.  The problem that they've run into is that the actual schedule hasn't been set, the deadline for tickets is June 2011, and most of the teams won't qualify until this winter!

Same with football.  I want to see the US play, but only if they are going to play in Coventry, because it's the easiest to get to, but the qualifiers aren't finished for several months!

But they can't possibly leave the ticket-selling until after the precise schedule has been set. Who knows - you might have a really good time watching Bosnia vs Spain. 

I thought that's how it always works with the Olympics. You buy tickets, but have no idea who you'll actually see until closer to the date.

I thought that's how it always works with the Olympics. You buy tickets, but have no idea who you'll actually see until closer to the date.

But what's the point of that?  I'm not interested in seeing the pageantry and all that jazz.  I just want to see my favorites...

 I just signed up online to get email notifications when they go on sale and how much. Haven't received anything just yet. Is there a list of all the locations?

But what's the point of that?  I'm not interested in seeing the pageantry and all that jazz.  I just want to see my favorites...

You could wait until games are announced and see if anyone was wiling to exchange tickets with you? It also looks like the Olympic committee is going to find an official resale/swapping site set up

http://www.london24.com/news/police_kick_start_campaign_against_2012_ticket_scams_1_794816

Meanwhile Games organisers are hoping to avoid a sales frenzy by running the ticket application process over six weeks with tickets being allocated by ballot. There could be some way of legally selling or swapping tickets.

But there are no guarantees London 2012 would be a tout-free zone, said Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison. But we will put the fear on them (touts) using every possible legislation that we can.”

I know for Vancouver they had an official re-sale/swap site, so it should be possible for London as well.

For me Im hoping Ill be able to see the US Swim team in action as theyre training in Yorkshire (Hoping Sheffield - as we have an world class Olympic from when they hosted the student games) as we cant afford to go to the Games in London.

But what's the point of that?  I'm not interested in seeing the pageantry and all that jazz.  I just want to see my favorites...

The point is that that's how it works. Even if you knew when/where your favourite events were and could apply for them, you might not get tickets. It's potluck and that's kind of how it has to be, logistically.

I just submitted my request for tickets...asked for tickets to Women's basketball, women's footie, tennis and the opening ceremonies.  I took a bit of a punt, assuming that I won't get everything because I really can only afford going to a couple of events. 

Anyone else do this yet?

Anyone else do this yet?

Yeah, we did it the other day.  Signed up for Women's Volleyball, Men's Basketball, and the Opening Ceremony.  It is a bit annoying that we can't pick and choose which teams to watch, but either way I think it's going to be great!

Yup, we signed for opening/closing, men's basketball and the velodrome. I'm sure we'll get nothing but it's quite exciting nonetheless

I suppose I'll just have to try my luck.  I still maintain that the silly part is that if I sign up for footy tix at Coventry, and I end up watching 2 countries I have no interest in, I have to eat that money because I've got no interest in the match and I can't imagine I would be able to resell.

I suppose I'll just have to try my luck.  I still maintain that the silly part is that if I sign up for footy tix at Coventry, and I end up watching 2 countries I have no interest in, I have to eat that money because I've got no interest in the match and I can't imagine I would be able to resell.

They've said you can resell back to them for face value as long as someone else wants the tickets. And I find it hard to believe that any tickets aren't going to be wanted by someone, no matter what the teams are! The only thing is that you'd have to pay for the tickets when you get them, and then wouldn't be able to get your money back until next year when they do the buy-back thing. But it means you won't be eating the money.

I suppose I'll just have to try my luck.  I still maintain that the silly part is that if I sign up for footy tix at Coventry, and I end up watching 2 countries I have no interest in, I have to eat that money because I've got no interest in the match and I can't imagine I would be able to resell.

I thought the same at first...but really that would leave tickets for the last minute, and this is an international event, and the logistics for ticket distribution, even with online options would be a nightmare.  So, though I would love to go to matches or games with US teams, I really just want to be able to go to see some Olympic games in person.  It is a rare opportunity and I hope I can take advantage of it.

Got the good news email this morning!  I got tickets to the Women's Football and Women's Basketball Gold Medal games.  So, two out of the four events I requested.  I am a very happy camper.

We ended up with mens final football and some weight lifting tickets.  Going to try in the next round to get more football though.