It was my privilege to set foot on what the Welsh consider hallowed ground, the pitch of Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, for a rugby lesson with star rugby player, Tom Shanklin. However, today's segment on AM definitely cemented my belief that I am a better spectator than participant.
And that's not a bad thing considering it is the perfect year to be a spectator and sports fan in the United Kingdom.
The king of sporting events, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games run from July 27 to August 12, 2012 and August 29 to September 9, 2012 respectively.
The Olympic Torch arrived in Britain last week to kick off the excitement. It is said that the Olympic flame will travel within one hour of 95% of the UK population and to more than 1,000 communities. The exciting Torch Relay will include some breathtaking spectacles and rather unusual modes of transport. Horseback, steam train and even a zip wire are all in the plans. Celebrations and events across Britain will mark the flame's arrival, creating unique local experiences across the
Apart from being a mecca for rugby fans, Millennium Stadium will also play host to the first 2012 Olympic event two days before the opening ceremony on July 27, when four of the qualifying women's soccer teams will play a double header of group games; the stadium hosts 11 matches on eight dates in both the men's and women's soccer competitions, starting on Wednesday July 25 and finishing with the men's bronze medal match in August.
If you want to check out some other Olympic events, it is still possible to get some tickets through CoSport. There are tickets available to numerous events including beach volleyball, badminton, boxing and judo. There are also "free events" that can be viewed from the sidelines, such as the marathon, road cycling and sailing events in Weymouth. For those who can't get tickets (or don't want to pay for them!) but want to soak up the excitement, there are "live sites" throughout the UK including big screens in London's Hyde Park, Victoria Park and Trafalgar Square. www.london2012.com.
Other major events on the UK sporting calendar include;
Wimbledon 2012, which runs from June 25 to July 8. It will see the finest players from over 60 countries compete in the five main Championships events. In the second week of the Tournament, these players will be joined by Juniors, Veterans and Wheelchair competitors, playing in their own events on the Championships' lawns.
Few sporting occasions match the intensity, glamour and drama of the Formula 1Santander British Grand Prix and whether a wide eyed first timer or seasoned veteran the experience is breathtaking. Nothing beats the atmosphere at Silverstone when a British driver takes to the circuit. From July 6 to 8, both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button will be aiming to impress the loyal British fans at their home race and hoping to mount the steps of the Silverstone podium.
