S26 E7 – Initial thoughts on attending the Winter Olympic Games

This evening we got back from a whirlwind trip to Italy for the Winter Olympics. We went to see two different skating events in Milan. More on that to come in due course, but I thought in the meantime I’d record some initial thoughts from our trip. In no particular order:

1. It is expensive to go to an event like the Olympics. On top of ticket prices, all the hotels jack their prices way up. BUT, it is so worth it. If you can afford to, go!
2. At least for skating, the cheapest seats offered an amazing view, so don’t be afraid to go for the cheapest class of tickets.
3. Amongst all of the people, you will be able to spot the Dutch – very orange – and the Americans – covered in the US flag and the only ones making friends on the Metro.
4. The Olympic Megastore is not worth the queue. Better merch is available online.
5. Events take longer than you think and the space you get in the venue is not generous (leg room and between seats). Take the opportunity to stretch throughout the evening during breaks (which is easier done if you’re near the end of a row).
6. Regardless of what the rules say on what you are allowed to take into the venues, you are at the mercy of security deciding to apply whatever rules they like. Yes, I’m still a bit sore over being made to throw away my totally within the rules empty water bottle.
7. Try and make the most of early mornings and weekdays, if you can, to visit some of the brand activations and the national houses.
8. Nobody walks as fast as Londoners do.
9. Tourists are super annoying, including us.
10. Some people spend an awful lot of money on tickets only to spend the entire event scrolling social media.
11. Watching an event on TV and watching it in real life is entirely different. The TV flattens and slows things down. It also minimises crowd noise and the drama.
12. Anything can happen at the Olympics and you can’t predict the outcome, even if people think it’s a foregone conclusion.
13. Trying to see a new city and attend Olympic events is tiring!
14. Attending events in person is amazing but they need to find a way that you can tune into the commentary because having an expert in your ear to explain what’s going on would be great.
15. People coming together from all over the world to watch people at the top of their game do their thing is just incredible.

As I say, a proper post on all of this is coming, but first, I have a suitcase full of dirty clothes to wash and a week of work to get through. Before I do all of that though, a good night’s sleep in my own bed is calling me…