Olympics Tickets

Is this another example of a society that expects to have everything? Demand was always going to outstrip supply; we always knew that far more people would want to see the 100 metres athletics finals than the stadium had capacity for. But, doubtless in part fuelled by the media, we seem to be having a collective whinge because we haven't got any, or only got some tickets. Did we really think we were all going to get a ticket because, to roll out the old line, 'we're paying for it' (yawn) and have one big happy UK party of 60 million people in London on 27 July 2012? 

And also, what's all this moaning about people having hundreds of pounds worth of tickets but not knowing what for? Unless you are exceedingly stupid and give your credit card details out to every Tom, Dick or Harry, then surely you knew when you were applying for tickets that the money would be debited before you knew what you'd see during the Games? And surely, on that basis, you only applied for stuff you actually wanted to see, or at the very least, thought you could sell back to the organisers? More fool you if you're stuck with 20 tickets to the ping pong. Although I think Boris Johnson might buy them off you.

Now may be a good time to confess that I did get tickets to one event (I'm not sure which, the diving I suspect), and I know at least three others who also got tickets, which blows out of the water the theory of 'Kelly Alderwick from Birmingham' that "every common soul out there has got bugger all" as quoted in today's Daily Star. The fact is, these tickets were available to everyone and if you weren't successful, well I'm afraid, as with life, that's just the luck of the draw.

It's time to wise up and accept that London 2012 is going to be a fabulous occasion, whether you watch it on the sofa with a beer or are in the stadium, so close to Usain Bolt you could touch him. The eyes of the world will once again be focused on the nation, as they were in April, and that was a major success. Let's get the bunting out of the loft, throw a street party, revel in the cultural Olympiad, cheer on Team GB and enjoy the short time that the Games are here. It's time to stop whinging, start partying and show the rest of the world what makes Great Britain so great.