The Wednesday Way: Day At The Olympics

There is a high amount of excitement surrounding the London 2012 Olympics that are currently taking place, wanting to take some of this excitement in I decided to attend a Football, Group D game between Spain and Morocco at Old Trafford, Manchester.

Old Trafford, Manchester

With the game being a 5pm kick off, we decided to see the newly opened National Football Museum, but not before a trip to Nando's, the museum which has recently moved from Preston North End's Deepdale Ground, is very much worth a visit, with something to interest every age, football supporter and non-supporter alike.

A Medal presented to SWFC which is shown within the NFM exhibition

See if you can spot your team on this map featuring Football teams across the nation?

With time still to burn while in Manchester, we decided to walk from Exchange Square, to the Etihad Stadium, Home of Manchester City. The walk took about 20 minutes, with a bus back to the city center costing £1.60.

Etihad Stadium

As part of the Olympic Ticket package, Travel too and from the Olympic venue was free. Travelling on the 'Eccles' Metrolink service from Piccadilly Gardens, which took 20 mins to get too Exchange Quays, where we departed, from there it's a simple 10 minute walk to the 'Theatre Of Dreams'.

With it being the Olympics, security checks where tight and extensive. As I had a bag with me, this had to be thoroughly checked over, before being placed into a clear bag, which is then sealed with a security tag. This is wasn't opened until I had passed through the turnstile. Before Passing through the turnstile, all contents in my pockets had to be emptied into another clear bag, before a body search was conducted. It all felt a bit uncomfortable, but totally necessary. Once inside the stadium it felt exactly like any other football game you have attended before.

Old Trafford

There was 2 screens specially erected in the South East and South West corners of the stadium for the Olympics, These showed Bradley Wiggins winning his Time Trial Sprint Gold Medal during the pre-match warm up. It all added to the atmosphere, and the overall sense of event.

The Game itself was nothing spectacular and had 0-0 written all over it from the off with both teams missing simple opportunities and hitting the post countless times. Spain had recognisable names such as Chelsea's Juan Mata and Barcelona's Jordi Alba representing them. But they couldn't unlock the Moroccan defense. While it wasn't a boring game, it certainly wasn't memorable either. But what is memorable is that this was an Olympic event. And it was a great pleasure to have the opportunity to attend such an experience.