A 60-year-old woman from Newport, Wales, who has not had a proper summer holiday in eight years because of her husband's love of sport, has won a dream trip to Svalbard, Norway - and she is going without him.
Hayley Hayes, a retiree, usually dedicates summer plans to key sporting events so her husband Anthony, 66, can watch them. The couple, who married in 2016, typically holiday at other times of the year. Even on holiday, much of their time is spent watching sport - a trip to India in 2024 coincided with test match cricket, and a return visit a year later fell during the Six Nations. Despite the four-and-a-half-hour time difference, Hayley wore her Wales rugby shirt and joined her husband for late-night and early-hour match screenings from their accommodation.
A 'fairness fix' trip to Svalbard
Hayley was chosen as the winner of giffgaff's Fair-play Summer Fund, designed to help people overcome barriers to a great summer. She will travel to Svalbard, Norway - a cold weather landscape that fascinates her - with her friend Rebecca, leaving her sports-loving husband at home.
Speaking about the prize, Hayley said: "I was literally both bouncing up and down and crying with excitement when I found out I'd won and would be going on a cold weather summer holiday I could only previously dream about."
She added: "I'm fascinated by the landscapes of Svalbard, and in particular the varied wildlife that calls the island home. Since my husband absolutely does not tolerate the cold, a wintry weather trip was never going to be on the cards for us, so this prize delivers on two fronts. Summer is turning into a whole new adventure for me."
Sport shapes holiday plans for many
Research found over a fifth (21%) of holidaymakers regularly check the sporting calendar before booking a trip. A poll of 2,000 holiday-goers found 22% have booked, changed or adjusted travel plans because of a sporting event, with 42% of those scheduling activities around matches.
A quarter of fans have returned home early from a trip for a sporting event, while 14% admitted they have previously cancelled a holiday altogether because of sport. Half of respondents who were still away watched or streamed live sport, according to the OnePoll findings. Of those, a quarter have tuned in from a restaurant, while 14% have followed the action poolside.
Time differences do not stop dedicated supporters either, with 21% waking up early or staying up late to catch their favourite team, and 5% of all those polled confessing they have watched while in the middle of sightseeing. Others have been willing to spend extra to stay connected, with 10% paying for Wi-Fi access and 9% using mobile data despite roaming charges.
Provider backs data demand
giffgaff internal data showed large data roaming surges during football this summer, with international matches seeing uplifts of up to 90% for key matches.
Kate Dohaney, CEO for the mobile and broadband provider, said: "We launched the Fair-play Summer Fund following new data that showed many of us feel like summer doesn't always play fair. From rising costs and hidden charges to missing out on experiences that matter, we wanted to help tackle some of these."
She added: "This season, we've provided even greater value on our SIM plans so our members can stay connected for less. We've also helped 200 people solve their summer sting via our Fund, and are delighted to be sending Hayley to Norway as her fairness fix so she doesn't have to miss out on the summer trip she's always dreamed of."
