Many Brits are altering their holiday plans this summer in order to be in the UK for the Olympic Games, research has found.
With the opening ceremony for the Games in London less than 50 days away, it seems that many British people are starting to get quite patriotic.
A survey by British Airways has revealed that as many as 40% of people have altered their travel plans to fit around the Games, purely so they can be in the UK to support the national team.
Not only that, but it was found that one in ten Brits have even cancelled a holiday because it clashed with the sporting event.
The research also revealed that our national pride has been increasing in recent weeks, with 38% of people saying they have felt more patriotic since the Olympic Torch arrived in Britain last month.
“We are normally a nation of ‘closet patriots’ – we may feel proud to be British, but we don’t often make a big, gushy, flag-waving fuss about it,” said social anthropologist Kate Fox.
“Except over rare national moments like the Queen’s Jubilee and sport: big sporting events such as the London 2012 Games, which provide an antidote to our social dis-ease and cynicism, providing us with an appropriate excuse to shed some of our inhibitions and be a bit more emotive and demonstrative in support of our national team.”
When it comes to showing support for the athletes in Team GB, it seems that different age groups have different views on how best to go about it.
The younger generation feel that cheering on the sportsmen and women in person is best, with 43% saying attending the Games is the best way to show support.
In contrast, almost 50% of over 55s believe the best way to support Team GB is by watching the Games at home on TV.
“It’s such a proud time to be British and we’re hoping to get the nation into the spirit by flying hundreds of ex-pats back to the UK to celebrate the summer of sport,” said Luisa Fernandez, British Airways sponsorship manager.
“We are immensely proud to support Team GB and ParalympicsGB and will be doing everything we can to rally the nation behind them and give our athletes a home advantage.”
If you are heading abroad this year, either before, during, or after the Olympic Games, consider taking out a prepaid travel money card. This works in a similar way to a credit or debit card, but bypasses expensive banks charges for card use while abroad.
