I read something in the paper yesterday about ticket availability for the olympics. I checked the official site and to my amazement found tickets available for almost every single athletics event. I'm going to the 100m final!
Now I've started the search for accomodation. If anyone else out there is going to Athens let's talk and swop info about where to stay and how to get around.
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Mens 100m final session clashes with womens marathon, so i've opted for finish of marathon in the old olympic stadium in the centre of Athens.
In terms of accomodation, as far as i know hotel rooms will be very very hard to come by. I did hear that they were going to bring some cruise liners into Pireaus (port city about 10 miles away) for accomodation purposes. There's also the option of renting private properties. August is the month most Greeks go on holidays, so many private flats will be empty.
As far a transport is concerned, i havn't worked this out yet. Certainly from the centre of Athens to the Olympic stadium is easy. There is an excellent metro service. Very new and efficient.
Simon
Plenty of other sporting events on during the day as well. I've heard ladies beach volleyball is a very good spectator sport.
Ulp!
(We're going to Greece in May instead)
Fly to Bulgaria.
Walk to Athens.
http://www.airline-network.co.uk/index.asp
£140 rtn from heathrow. the downside is the outbound flight time, but I don't care.
accomodation is now my only issue
We were there 2 years ago, and would have been back this year if we had been able to get "our" hotel the week we are off. Next year, definitely.
Ice cold Amstel, watching the sunset across the harbour from a taverna - sigh.
Right, off to look for a campsite on Aegina.
It was appearent that the only way an 'ordinary Joe' could afford this was to camp out of town and travel. I found a decent campsite at: www.athens2004accomodations.com
I booked flights and car hire from:
www.airline-network.co.uk.
All in it has cost just under £700 for the two of us to spend 4 days in Athens including tickets to the rowing on one day and the athletics the next.
Given some of the horror stories I'm reading about hotel and flight costs, I figure that's not too bad.
Now if only those Greeks could finish the stadiums, roads, airport etc etc......
You do realise that there are severe car restrictions in Athens during the games? They are virtually closing the city down, so you won't be able to drive anywhere....
The chances of me 'selling' beach vollyball to my wife as a 'sporting' event only are pretty slim.
At the risk of being slightly defensive (my wife is Greek), please don't believe everything you read and hear. Yes, there are problems, some of them major i.e. the main stadium roof and some recent industrial action taken by construction workers protesting about working conditions and safety (13 construction deaths so far this year), but please don't just make randon assumptions on what is ready and what isn't.
It will be ready. The main problem i foresee is that general apathy towards the games based on my chats with friends and family whilst i was there last week.
To those thinking about car hire, i wouldn't bother. Parking facilities will be minimal and that together with car restrictions make it much more sensible to use the public transport facilities.
Hows that beach volleyball stadium coming along?
I got a deal off the manager theere. The website says min 7 days booking. I got it for three for Euro 42 pp per night. Price includes the tent.
No doubt as others have pointed out, I'll probably roast alive in the heat......
When are you going TT?
What are transport links like from backhus???