2012 Olympic Football
July 2012
On Wednesday 6 July 2005, the International Olympic Committee awarded the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to London. Six years later, preparations are in full swing and the city is awash with talk of tickets and events.
The last time London hosted the event was in 1948, when the Games resumed after a 12 year hiatus due to World War II. The principal venue that year was Wembley Stadium, where some 85,000 spectators left thoughts of post-war rationing and economic instability behind to enjoy a splendid sporting extravaganza in glorious weather. How fitting therefore, that over 60 years later the Games should return, and not only to London but to Wembley Stadium in its magnificent new guise.
In 1948, Great Britain won bronze in the Football competition with a team managed by Manchester United’s Sir Matt Busby. For London 2012, Stuart Pearce and Hope Powell will coach Great Britain's men's and women's Olympic football teams.
With the men’s competition limited to under 23s, plus a total of three older players permitted per team and talk of David Beckham eager to participate, the prospect of what lies ahead is simply mouth-watering. Add to that the global talent on show, and one starts to get a sense of how truly special such an event might be. With preliminary matches, as well as quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals for both men and women, the London 2012 Olympic Football tournament at Wembley Stadium provides a chance to see the world’s best battle it out for that most illustrious of prizes: an Olympic Gold medal.
The groups for the tournaments are as follows:
Men's draw:
Group A: Great Britain, Senegal, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay
Group B: Mexico, South Korea, Gabon, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Egypt, Belarus, New Zealand
Group D: Spain, Japan, Honduras, Morocco
Women's draw:
Group E: Great Britain, New Zealand, Cameroon, Brazil
Group F: Japan, Canada, Sweden, South Africa
Group G: USA, France, Colombia, Korea DPR
Matches will take place at City of Coventry Stadium, Hampden Park, Millennium Stadium, Old Trafford, St James Park and Wembley Stadium.
Hope Powell's women's team will play New Zealand in the opening event of the Olympic Games at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 25 July. Powell's side will play Cameroon in Cardiff on Saturday 28 July, with their final group match against Brazil at Wembley on Tuesday 31 July.
The British men's side will take on Senegal in their opening fixture, at Old Trafford on 26 July. Stuart Pearce's side then face United Arab Emirates at Wembley on 29 July and Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium on 1 August.
Tickets are available for the majority of sessions but availability is very limited at the men’s matches at Wembley Stadium and the City of Coventry Stadium. Prices start at £20 for adults, with special prices available at most sessions: Pay Your Age for those who are 16 or under £16 for those 60 or over.
Tickets are available from 11am on Monday 30 April until 11pm on Sunday 6 May 2012 here or 0844 847 2012.
29 July, 17:00 - 21:45: Senegal v Uruguay (Men) & Great Britain v United Arab Emirates (Men)
31 July, 19:45 - 21:45: Great Britain v Brazil (Women)
1 August ,17:00 - 19:00: Korea v Gabon (Men)
4 August, 14:30 - 16:30: Men's quarter-final
6 August, 17:00 - 19:00: Women's semi-final
7 August, 17:00 - 19:00: Men's semi-final
9 August, 19:45 - 22:15: Women's gold medal match / victory ceremony
11 August, 15:00 - 17:30: Men's gold medal match / victory ceremony
Call the Club Wembley team with hospitality enquiries on 0844 980 0038 or email sales@wembleystadium.com.