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Sport fans to get best 2012 seats so stands stay full
9 Oct 2009Sports fanatics will get priority for front row seats at the 2012 Games, with Olympics chiefs wanting a good atmosphere and to avoid the embarrassment of empty stadiums.
VIPs, media and sponsors may be asked to move for fans who can be relied on to show up to events and shout support for the athletes.
The ticketing plan has been devised over the past year by Locog, the 2012 organisers, and the International Olympic Committee under the banner “Fans in Front”.
London's Games bid was built on Britain's passion for live sport, so organisers are intent on solving the problem of empty seats which blighted the past two summer Games in Athens and Beijing.
It particularly affected niche sports and events where the home nation was not represented.
If its idea is successful, Locog will please broadcasters who have complained of unoccupied seats in camera range deterring advertisers.
The 9.2 million Olympic and Paralympic tickets will be sold on the London 2012 website from 2011 by public ballot. But Locog has pledged that applicants who are members of sports clubs will get priority for tickets near the front. They hope this will encourage people to join a club, helping the Games' sporting legacy.
Locog's chief executive, Paul Deighton, told the IOC's annual meeting this week: “Balancing needs of athletes, media, Olympic family [officials and sponsors] and spectators is always a challenge.
“We are working on a concept of Fans in Front. This is designed to fill seats around the play with passionate spectators. This will provide athletes with a great atmosphere.”
Proposals to move groups that are less likely to attend events arose in a debriefing of Beijing Games organisers last November. These include some of the 20,000 media personnel, athletes and their guests.
Efforts to maximise attendances will also focus on distribution of tickets to sponsors, who receive 50-60,000 seats.
At previous Games, sponsors have only been given bundles of tickets for simultaneous events, but in London they will be able to swap unwanted tickets.
Reader views (7)
Exaclty my point MDj...in England (Britian) we have our favourite sports which as you suggest include tennis (although how many take notice other than Wimbledon?) and naturally football.
I am sure in Rio for 2016 there will be sports thay their people enjoy and don't have any interest in.
In someways the Olympics have so many sports that quite frankly are of little interest to most.
- Mark, Watford, 13/10/2009 19:31
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I thought people joined sports clubs to DO stuff, not sit and watch it. If there are people 'passionate' (sad word) to watch this stuff, they won't need incentives. Why is this sort of desperate dodge not necessary at Wembley or Wimbledon? Oh, silly me, those are sports that people actually give care about, and therefore need no subsidy, or coachloads of highly-paid bureaucrats to 'incentivise' people to turn up.
The next bright idea: have bouncers outside the stadiums, throwing people in...
- Mdj E10, london uk, 12/10/2009 23:27
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Its all very well but remember a lot of sports in the Olympics wih due respect to the people who take part (probably on very little money and support like footballers etc) are attractive to most sporty fans.
Its a wonder we do so well in Sailing and Rowing actually...because unless your posh/rich there isn't much chance of taking part.
As for sports like Softball and baseball..well guess you have to hope the overseas people want to visit those events.
In reality only swimming,football,athletics and cycling will sell out fully...even China didn't sell out that much and people were forced to.
- Mark, Watford, 11/10/2009 22:18
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This is a great idea. The RFU did the same thing at the World Cup for school kids and it really boosted interest in the sport. If we allow sponsors to take the best seats we end up with a disinterested and possibly reduced crowd as they don't necessarilly have any motivation to go to the event.
- Mark, London, 09/10/2009 11:39
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Ref. the image -
Hey you two, the games are in 2012. You have another 2 years to go!
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 09/10/2009 11:19
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I suppose it all depends on how much they will charge for these tickets, and the cost of getting to the venue.
- Mr S.Port, London, 09/10/2009 09:35
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But how expensive will the tickets be?
- Dannyp, Egham, 09/10/2009 08:59
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