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Londoners ‘must have say in who gets 2012 Olympics tickets’
Pippa Crerar, City Hall Editor11 Feb 2010
City Hall is to review ticketing plans for the 2012 Olympics amid fears that ordinary Londoners could miss out, it was announced today.
The investigation by the London Assembly will look at supply, affordability, the risks of fraud and the ability to fill empty seats.
Organiers of the 2012 Games agreed to sell 130,000 of the most highly sought-after tickets to two corporate hospitality companies.
Once allocations to the 202 national Olympic committees worldwide, the International Olympic Committee and sponsors, and the media are taken into account, there are concerns that tickets for popular events could be few.
The assembly's economic development, culture and sport committee believes ordinary fans should have their say on how the 7.7 million tickets for the Games and 1.5 million for the Paralympics are distributed and ticket prices.
Dee Doocey, chair of the committee, said: “Given how much Londoners have paid for the Games, we want to ensure their views are taken into account.”
The Games organisers initially suggested more than 4.3 million tickets would be under £20 — but official prices have not yet been announced.
Tickets go on general sale through a ballot in 2011 but it is unclear whether local people will get priority or if there will be discounts for schoolchildren.
A recent survey found that more than 44 per cent of Londoners want to go to the Games. London council-tax payers are paying an average of £20 per household per year towards the Olympics.
Reader views (7)
No wonder kids don't get invovled in sports if the attitude of people in general is the same as those who have written comments here.
Maybe you are just all football freaks that think its the only sport worth thinking about?
- Mark, Watford, 12/02/2010 15:09
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Yet again those who can easily afford them will get them free. Why should any tickets at all be allocated to corporate hospitality companies?
- Patrick, Dalston, 12/02/2010 12:25
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I wouldn't accept a ticket for this jamboree as a gift. I cannot think of anything more boring that watching people running round in circles, jumping up and down or throwing things.
- Lo, London, England, 11/02/2010 16:05
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I find it farcical that all these BILLIONS are being spent on the games, when our country is BANKRUPT,YES BANKRUPT.
I wish govenment ministers would ask a REAL member of the public what they thought about the games and i have no doubt they would be shocked to the core as politicians no longer live in the real world.
I DO NOT WISH TO PAY A SINGLE SHEKEL OF HARD EARNED MONEY TO PROP UP THIS FARCICAL RUNNING AND JUMPING AND BAT'S AND BALLS BONANZA YYYYAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNN.
The buildings that remain after the games will enter a state of dilapidation , or be bought up for a fraction of cost by big business.
THE AVERAGE LONDONER WILL NOT BENEFIT ONE JOT FROM ANY OF THE SO CALLED "INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE".
heed my words ,for i have spoken for all this will come to pass.
MR(JUST TAKE A LONG HARD LOOK AT THE OLYMPIC FIASCO PLEASE)PASTRY
- Mr Pastry, london, 11/02/2010 15:46
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Londoners will probably not get many after the corporate free-for-all.
- What A Waste, London, 11/02/2010 14:12
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As Londoners will be paying for this circus for the next 30 or 40 years they should get FREE tickets - that is if any of them want to attend any of the events. Personally I wouldn't want to watch people running and jumping or swimming - or indeed any other olympic sport - even if admission was free.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK, 11/02/2010 13:06
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Londoners who pay council tax should be offered free tickets first as we have had to pay a surcharge on our bills to help pay towards this wasteful circus.
Personally I'll be away on holiday to get away from it all
- P Staker, London, 11/02/2010 12:14
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