Center
London 2012 organisers detail free ticket plans
Updated: 2011-05-17 14:40
(Agencies)
LONDON - London 2012 organisers highlighted a scheme offering free tickets to schoolchildren on Monday, the day some successful applicants in the paying public saw the first debits from their bank accounts.
Organisers said 125,000 tickets, including for showcase events involving sprint champion Usain Bolt, would be distributed to schools in the capital that had signed up to the 'Get Set' programme by Dec 16.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said after a presentation at a North London school that two-thirds of the tickets available would be for Olympic events but opening and closing ceremonies were excluded.
It would be up to schools to decide how to allocate their tickets.
More free tickets could also be handed out closer to the event to avoid the empty seats seen at previous Olympics.
"We thought one in eight was the right number," Johnson said after playing table tennis with pupils in a breezy playground. "You don't want to give away too many free tickets otherwise you devalue them.
"But there will be an opportunity, we think, for kids to get into events if they are under-subscribed and if the (Olympic) Park needs filling up on the day," he added.
Specials
The song dynasty
There are MORE THAN 300 types of Chinese operas but two POPULAR varieties are major standouts
Sino-US Dialogue
China and the US hold the third round of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue from May 9-10 in Washington.
Building communities
American architect John Portman and his company have developed more than 30 projects across China.