Hi everyone and welcome to the Flat-Club blog!
Today there are only 171 days to go until the official start of the London 2012 Olympics and we're all getting pretty excited. But never fear - it's not because we're smug and somehow managed to get tickets to the events. No, we're excited because as Londoners, we know the best places to go and the best things to do to see the Olympics and this amazing city on a budget this summer.
1) Start saving your receipts now
Sounds crazy, we know, but a lot of companies are running competitions and ticket giveaways for the Olympics. Cadbury's, Visa, BP and P&G to name just a few. Have a look at their websites to see how to enter.
2) Go to the London Prepares events
The Olympic Games officially start on 27 July, but there are a lot of events happening before this point in the actual Olympic stadiums. There’s Diving in February, Synchronised Swimming in the Aquatics Centre in April, or you can watch some Athletics events in the Olympic Park in May. Tickets start at £5 and go on sale soon here
3) Grab a road-side seat at the Olympics' free events
The women’s marathon is on Saturday 5 August from 11am, and the men’s marathon is the following week on Saturday 12 August. The marathon route takes in London’s famous landmarks: St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. You need tickets for the start and finish line at The Mall, but otherwise the rest of the route is free! Same rules apply for the 20k race walks and cycling road races during the Games.
Image copyright www.army.mil
4) Picnic at London's free Olympic big screens
Head over to some of London’s most famous locations and watch the Games on state-of-the-art big screens in Hyde Park, Victoria Park and Trafalgar Square There’ll also be live music and the chance to try out Olympic sports there too. And again, it’s completely free.
Image copyright www.wolfandbadger.com
5) Set up camp in London's pubs and bars
To celebrate the Olympics in true London-style, you’ll need a pint in one hand and a pie in the other. We can guarantee that most of us will be watching in our local pub, and there’s sure to be some great promotions and discounts to lure you in too.
6) Make some cash out of the Olympics instead
Accommodation will be in great demand over the two weeks of the Games. So if you've got a place in London, it’ll be the ideal time to rent it out to someone you trust and escape the city for a fortnight. After all, you can always just watch the replays on TV from an exotic island somewhere…
Image copyright www.wallpaperhere.com
So there you have it – the Flat-Club guide to seeing the Olympics on a budget. What are your plans for the Games? Have you got tickets or will you be jetting out of town as soon as possible?