Entry to Olympic Park

Did you see the one about no Golf Umbrellas as well?

Sucks if you are attending an outdoor event, even if you have covered grandstand seating. Infact, even just getting to the likes of the Stadium, you are likely going to have to queue through security. The one thing we haven't been short of lately is rain!
 
I often think that one reason 'we' so badly wanted to host the Olympics was that the public could get used to what it feels like living in a police state. That was the previous government, of course. But still...
 
DB_SamX said:
Just dropped them an email. Fingers crossed I get a reply in the next 2 weeks. That article you have linked to seems to indicate that as long as it fits in a 30x20x20 soft bag, then it's fine. That's probably most DSLRs and a mid range telephoto. Gonna hav a look at TP forums to see if anyone knows there.

There we go: http://www.london2012.com/mm/Docume...Prohibitedandrestricteditemslists_Neutral.pdf

Limited to 30cm.
Click to expand...

Not quite right:
Wembley has its own policy: http://www.london2012.com/mm/Docume...adiumprohibitedandrestricteditems_Neutral.pdf

Items that are prohibited from Wembley are:
...
professional-style cameras (any camera with interchangeable lenses) or recording/transmitting devices.
...
Click to expand...

:mad: Considering I am only going to football games there, I'm annoyed I can't take my DSLR. And strictly speaking micro 4/3 as they also have interchangeable lenses.
 
I've taken my DSLR with a 70-200 L on it into Wembley four times now. Each time i've had my bag searched by their G4S security as well!

However, I was attending for Rugby games and not Football, I'm aware that the Premier League is very anal about their rights and those who are allowed to take photos at games which is why they don't let people take photos with equipment they deem professional.

I can't imagine that any of the UK Football bodies have any jurisdiction over Olympic football, however as the FA own Wembley, I suppose they want to maintain their policy.

Unless you were turning up with a ridiculous telephoto (which clearly wouldn't fit in a small bag anyway) they would have to be a right jobsworth to turn you away.
 
People get so worked up about nonsense. Modern events (few of which are on the scale of the Olympics) have crazy and often strict rules.. it is sad but it is a fact of life.. Follow the rules and it will be a fantastic event...
 
As an army officer working on the Olympic games. I can give out a bit of non commitall subject to change advice:

Lenses need to be under 30cm in length.

Treat security as your getting in a plane nothing sharp no liquid over 100ml etc etc.
 
400 f/2.8 would put you well over the 30cm camera rule. :D

The 70-200 f/2.8 is almost 30cm with the lens hood on, not attached to the camera body. So I reckon attached to a body, without lens hood, it should be under that. It was what I was intending to take... though I'm going to keep and eye on Photography forums to see what is happening as to wether people are getting turned away.
 
Thought I'd add a little update based on information I found out for myself today.

Tried to get into the Hyde Park Olympics Festival earlier on and they run it in exactly the same way as the sporting venues.

They weren't allowing any food or drink in, however you can take a bottle as there are actual water filling points inside. The Steward even recommended buying bottles of water from across the road & emptying/drinking it first, as its cheaper than buying one inside. Beer is also £5 a pint!

The other issue was to do with cameras...
Despite the rule they've mentioned in the official PDF about no cameras over 30cm in length, they were saying that cameras could not be over 6 inches in length, which is only 15cm!

I had a chat with a steward about it, as I had a my 70-200L and a couple of other lenses in my bag and wanted to know how serious they were about it, before I bothered trying to queue up to get in. She was totally honest and said that anything over 6 inches is banned, purely because they don't want anyone making money off photos when they aren't licensed to do so. So clearly anything that looks remotely professional isn't going to go down well.

I don't really post on Talk Photography but will be keeping an eye on that, maybe start a thread myself.
 
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