This year the Olympic and Paralympic games come to the UK, attracting millions of visitors from around the world. The Olympics will feature 26 sports, for games covering 39 disciplines and the Paralympics programmes features 20 sports. The opening ceremony on 27th July will be watched by billions across the world.

Olympic Torch relay

The Olympic Flame is one of the enduring symbols of the Olympic Games, representing peace, unity and friendship. As it is carried around the UK for the Olympic Torch Relay it will bring the spirit of the Games to everyone. The torch passed through Cardiff on 25th & 26th May and was carried by Matt Smith, aka The Doctor and Sam Warbuton, Wales Rugby Captain. See some of the images on our Facebook page here.

Olympic Football in Cardiff

The women footballers from Team GB will kick off the Olympic Games against New Zealand at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on 25th July – two days before the official opening ceremony.

The match is a double header of women’s matches, and will be followed by Brazil against Cameroon.

There are nine other matches, including the GB men’s team’s game against Uruguay on 1st August – a double header alongside Mexico v Switzerland. The GB women’s team take on Cameroon on 28th July – another double header, with Brazil’s women taking on New Zealand the same day.

Japan vs Russia in the women’s tournament is the other qualifying match at the Millennium Stadium on 31st July.

The qualifying matches are followed by a quarter final in each of the tournaments on 3rd and 4th August and the men’s bronze medal play-off on 10th August.

The GB teams will return to the Millennium Stadium for their quarter final if the women finish second in their group and the men win their group.

Download the full Football schedule here. See details of all Cardiff games here.

Tickets

See a full list of Olympic football matches hosted in Cardiff here. Tickets are back on sale from May 23rd. Tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis at www.tickets.london2012.com or via telephone 0844 847 2012

Book your accommodation online

Whether you're looking for a luxurious five-star hotel, cosy guest house, or a room on a budget, Cardiff has plenty of choice - and most hotels and B&Bs are only a short walk from the city's visitor attractions, shops and railway station.You can find out more about Cardiff's accommodation as well as searching and booking online here.

Find out more about Cardiff's accommodation here.

Transport

Cardiff, Wales' capital is situated in South Wales, and is easy to reach from anywhere in the UK or overseas. Just two hours away from the centre of London by rail or road and only an hour and a half’s drive away from Heathrow, Cardiff is accessible whether you plan to get here by car, plane, bus, ferry or train.

Park & Ride

Park and Ride is an ideal method of transport for getting to and from the city centre during the Games. The park and ride sites have provisions for the disabled with parking adjacent to the bus pick-up point within the site, as well as low-floor access buses. The sites are adjacent to major road networks in Cardiff.  

Drivers are advised to leave the M4 at Junction 33 and follow the signs to the available parking site at the time of arrival. The Park and Ride service is £10 per car.  This can be paid on the day or in advance on the LOCOG website.

The hours of operation are outlined below on an individual event basis. Sites will open 30 minutes before the first bus, and close 30 minutes after the last bus leaves the city centre.

We suggest that you allow 15 minutes walk from the drop-off point to the Stadium, and a further 40 minutes to reach your allocated seat. Find out more about Cardiff's public transport, as well as how to get around under your own steam. 

For downloadable maps of the city centre, Cardiff Bay, and the city-region, click here.

You'll find further information on travelling to Cardiff for the Olympics here.
For general information about the 2012 London Olympics visit www.london2012.com