London 2012 has put some of the public off of the Olympics as some holidaymakers flee the country, but others will want to keep up-to-date with the action at the Games.
But do you know where is best to catch coverage of the games at airports? Purple Parking has compiled a handy guide to catch the sport while waiting for your flight.
Pubs and Bars
Heathrow airport has access to sport shown on BBC, but nowhere has access to coverage on Sky. The Wetherspoons before security will be playing the games and once you have passed through security, here are some places you can still catch the action:
Terminal 1 – Bridge Bar and Grill are happy to switch to any BBC channel requested to catch important sports and events.
Terminal 3 – A great place to watch the coverage is Rhubarb. Not only will they play the sport, you can call up and book a table so you can be sure of a seat.
Terminal 4 – Unfortunately no bars or restaurants after security have televisions where you can see the games. If you are flying from Terminal 4 you may want to look into the internet options below.
Terminal 5 – The Crown Rivers (Wetherspoons) will be the best place to watch the action and best of all, you will not be spending an arm and a leg for the food and drink.
Internet access on your phone
If you are trying to find Olympic coverage, the BBC has announced that it will show live coverage on its website. The coverage includes HD videos, 24 live streams which can be rewound and paused, as well as live data and statistics. You can also see the games from the past 7 days on BBC iPlayer.
If you have a smart phone or tablet device you may be able to stream the games to your phone. If not, you may want to consider bringing a laptop with you – even laptops which do not have wi-fi can be upgraded with a wireless networking card which you can buy at the airport. The BBC has also developed an Olympics mobile browser site and Olympics mobile app to make catching the games on your phone easier.
Be aware of data charges though, streaming a whole event could be costly. You may want to look into using the airport’s internet which is usually available at a slight cost and the speed could be higher. Heathrow and other popular airports are serviced by Boingo and you can set up pay as you go or monthly plans from as little as £9.95 a month.
Broadband-connected computers
If you do not have a hand-held internet device and you do not want to carry a heavy laptop, you could choose to watch the games online at computers in the terminals. Heathrow airport has broadband connected computers at all terminals. These are not free however; they need prepayment (by voucher, cash or credit card). The computers can be found at Terminals 1,3 and 4 all after security and are open 24 hours. Terminal 5 has stations before and after security which may not be open 24 hours.
Airport lounges
Using an airport lounge can be a convenient way to get in front of a TV screen, plus you can relax with complimentary food and drink and settle down to really enjoy the sport. They are definitely worth considering as they are not as expensive as you may think. If you are travelling from Heathrow Terminals 1 and 3, Servisair Executive lounges are located after security. You can use the lounge for three hours with access to televisions, computers and the internet to catch the sport but also complimentary food and drink (including alcoholic drinks) for less than £20.
If you are flying from Terminal 3, you may wish to use the No.1 Traveller Lounge which you can book for as little as £15. Again you will have access to complimentary food and drink as well as a selection of televisions where you can catch the sport.
If you are flying from Heathrow and are looking for options to catch the games, Purple Parking has a handy Heathrow terminal guide to help you find where you are flying from.