The latest cost estimate for the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London is $65 million. Individual tickets cost over one-thousand dollars. But the London 2012 organizing committee is also sharing its expertise to train local school groups to perform their own home-made opening ceremonies on June 25, when World Sport Day will be celebrated with special Olympic year flair. Local schools have each developed a booster program for an Olympic and Paralympic Team, so followers of a particular sport can find a celebration that is a good match for their interests.
These events will follow the official opening of the London 2012 Festival on June 21 and International Olympic Day celebrations on June 23. These will make late June one of the best times to preview the Cultural Olympiad and new Olympic landmarks in London. The London Festival of Architecture will also start on June 23 and continue for two weeks. Special architecture tours of the Olympic landmarks in London are planned as part of this program.
While several readers have expressed concerns that it will be difficult or expensive to travel to London to see the Cultural Olympiad and the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, United Airlines, the official airline of the US Olympic team, has added extra capacity and has seats available on most flights throughout the schedule of Olympic events. For example, there are four direct flights and a dozen connections from Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow on July 25, in time to arrive a day before the opening ceremonies. All have some seats at regular advance purchase economy fares under $1,500. And availability to travel to the Cultural Olympiad in late June or early July is excellent.
Good hotel accommodations for as little as $66 per night are available in London suburbs with their own Olympic activities, as well as good connections to London. For example, the City of Coventry, hometown of legendary equestrian athlete Lady Godiva, will open a big screen Olympic viewing platform on May 1 and continue broadcasts through the Paralympics in September. City of Coventry Stadium will present the final match for a slot in Men’s Olympic Football on Monday, April 23. Tickets to the match cost under $50. The Expedia Special rate of $66 per night is available at the three star Quality Hotel Coventry. Expedia lists several Bed and Breakfast lodges nearby at similar prices, including a full English breakfast. The nearby luxury resort Mercure Brandon Hall Hotel and Spa has an advance purchase special for $95 per night. However, most Coventry hotels are already sold out during the Olympics, so you should act quickly if you would like to see the Olympics on a budget.
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