Don’t just go to the Olympics, volunteer in the Olympic Games!
We were able to attend some great events including gymnastics, swimming, basketball, beach volleyball, track and field, and diving (for less than face value!). Take my advice-buy the cheapest tickets and sit down in the best seats in the arena. You may be asked to move but if you’re lucky you’ll get prime seats for minimal cost. My husband and I got front row seats during the majority of the events and were only asked to move a couple of times.
Getting tickets
CoSport is the official USA website to obtain Olympic tickets (regardless of which country the Olympics are being held). Visit the website approximately two years prior to the Olympic Games for ticket request information. Determine which date the request phase begins and be sure to request your tickets before the deadline. Approximately one year before the Olympics you should receive an email stating which tickets you have been granted. You will only have a limited amount of time to accept or decline the tickets. Once you accept your tickets, you will need to pay for the tickets immediately.
Tips before going
Add CoSport profiles for everyone planning to go to the Olympics. You’re only allowed to request a certain amount of tickets. The likelihood you’ll even get a handful of the events you requested is small. Request the maximum amount of tickets from multiple accounts to increase your odds. Consider NOT requesting the best tickets (seating A) to increase your odds. CoSport imposes ridiculously high fees on the ticket prices so plan to put in some extra work hours ahead of time!
Does the host city have strict policies against scalping tickets? If not, you can sell them for more than face value before the event starts. In Rio, strict laws prohibited scalping for more than face-value.
Pay the extra price to have the tickets delivered a month before the Olympics start. The line to pick them up in Rio were very long and unorganized.
Venues are very far apart from each other. Make sure you have at least 3-4 hours between events at different venues for travel time. Venues open 2 hours prior to the start of the event. Arriving early is key to avoiding crowds and as a bonus you’ll get to witness the athletes warming up prior to the event.
Volunteering in the Olympics
Get an insider’s look at how the Olympics by applying to be a volunteer! It’s a great way to interact with the athletes and get a behind-the-scenes view of Games. Meeting the athletes is a huge perk for some volunteers. For instance, I was able to interact with Usain Bolt and watch him race the 100M and 200M finals without having to purchase tickets!
Ticket Prices
Tickets range in price between the section of seating (A being the best and C being the nosebleed section). The price also depends on the country hosting the event. My husband and I were very fortunate to attend the Rio games. Ticket prices were lower than other host countries. In more expensive cities expect to pay $50 for a nosebleed seat of a preliminary event. Expect to pay $3,000 a ticket for a high interest section A ticket, such as the opening ceremony or 100M final.
Check out the videos from the 200M butterfly final and Simone’s floor routine below. The ticket price is worth the excitement of the event and the positivity of all the fans!
Why you should attend
Attending and volunteering in the Rio Olympics was an opportunity of a lifetime. We met fans who have become addicted to the energy and excitement of the Olympics. I can now see why so many spectators continue to go to the Games time and time again. We plan to volunteer again. Want to join us?
[…] and for going along with all of my spur-of-the-moment wild ideas, like skydiving and volunteering in the Rio Olympics. Our friends and family are right, I absolutely married “up”! […]