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| Helsinki 2012 mascot 'Appy' was unveiled Thursday as it was announced that ticket sales for next year's European Athletics Championships begin Sunday 7 August. |
Ticket sales for the Helsinki 2012 European Athletics Championships begin on Sunday 7 August, with ticket packages starting from 65 euros.
The compact five-day schedule of the 2012 European Athletics Championships through 27 June to 1 July encompasses morning sessions with heats and qualifications and exciting evening sessions packed with finals.
Helsinki 2012 General Secretary Esa Honkalehto said, “Fans have shown a lot of interest in advance ticket sales and we are sure that the ticket package prices we are now offering will be attractive to local supporters who will be entertained every day by top-level Finnish athletes and athletics fans around the world.
“Pricing of the tickets is very reasonable considering the fact that the European Athletics Championships affords top-level entertainment by the best European athletes. The pricing is in line with other top sporting and cultural events.”
With javelin very close to the hearts of Finnish athletics fans, a “javelin package” covering the qualification rounds for men and women on Wednesday 27 June and the men’s final on Thursday 28 June is available. Friday 29 June will be a package of its own with 12 finals including the women’s javelin final and the first day of the heptathlon.
The Saturday and Sunday package offers a staggering amount of action – altogether 20 finals – at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. The home crowd can expect success for the Finnish team in the men’s long jump, pole vault and hammer throw as well as in the women’s pole vault.
Helsinki 2012 ticket sales will start Sunday with a ceremony honouring Finland’s men’s ice hockey team, with the first tickets presented to the “Leijonat” (lions) who won gold at this year’s World Championships.
“The ‘Leijonat’ showed what Finnish ‘sisu’ (fighting spirit) means. Their fantastic effort sets a good example also for the Finnish athletes. If they win at next year’s world championships we will invite them all to the European Athletics Championships,” said Honkalehto.
Tickets can be bought here (link fully functional from Sunday 7 August).
Introducing 'Appy': Event mascot and guide
Helsinki 2012 event mascot “Appy” is a virtual character representing the theme of the 2012 European Athletics Championships: technology and design. Appy will be present at the stadium as a traditional event mascot and also as an icon and virtual guide in mobile devices. Appy will offer a groundbreaking experience for the stadium crowd and television audience by delivering live results and other information to mobile devices.
The Helsinki 2012 local organising committee will be developing mobile solutions for the event in co-operation with the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 and advertising agency Kapina. The first stage of the mobile service is the mobile-optimised webpage m.helsinki2012.fi. It will present up to the minute news and information on the Helsinki 2012 European Athletics Championships.