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London 2012: Thousands more Olympic tickets to go on sale London 2012: Thousands more Olympic tickets to go on sale
(40 minutes later)
London 2012 is withdrawing half a million Olympic football tickets from sale but 200,000 for other sports are to be made available.London 2012 is withdrawing half a million Olympic football tickets from sale but 200,000 for other sports are to be made available.
Organisers are to reduce capacity at Hampden Park in Glasgow and Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.Organisers are to reduce capacity at Hampden Park in Glasgow and Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
The upper tier of seats in Cardiff will be closed for all games, including two featuring Great Britain teams.The upper tier of seats in Cardiff will be closed for all games, including two featuring Great Britain teams.
But more contingency tickets will be made available for other sports.But more contingency tickets will be made available for other sports.
In addition to 50,000 non-football tickets that have yet to be sold, 200,000 other tickets will be made available online in the 10 days between now and the Games.In addition to 50,000 non-football tickets that have yet to be sold, 200,000 other tickets will be made available online in the 10 days between now and the Games.
BBC sports news correspondent James Pearce said it was a "fairly surprising revelation from London 2012" that so many tickets had yet to go on sale.BBC sports news correspondent James Pearce said it was a "fairly surprising revelation from London 2012" that so many tickets had yet to go on sale.
The Olympic Games begin with a round of football matches on Wednesday 25 July, including Team GB's women taking on New Zealand in Cardiff, two days before the opening ceremony in Olympic Park.The Olympic Games begin with a round of football matches on Wednesday 25 July, including Team GB's women taking on New Zealand in Cardiff, two days before the opening ceremony in Olympic Park.
Thhe capacity in the stadium will be scaled down from nearly 75,000 to 40,000.Thhe capacity in the stadium will be scaled down from nearly 75,000 to 40,000.
London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe told the BBC "just shy of 40,000" tickets had been issued for that match and suggested the shortfall in football ticket sales was to be expected.London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe told the BBC "just shy of 40,000" tickets had been issued for that match and suggested the shortfall in football ticket sales was to be expected.
"It's always a challenge; you've got lots of venues and lots of matches and you don't know until late on who is going to be playing," he said."It's always a challenge; you've got lots of venues and lots of matches and you don't know until late on who is going to be playing," he said.
Lord Coe said the remaining tickets would be sold "by hook or by crook".Lord Coe said the remaining tickets would be sold "by hook or by crook".
That may include using London 2012's Ticket Share system, which provides free tickets to children, servicemen and women and their families, and sportspeople, funded through hospitality packages.That may include using London 2012's Ticket Share system, which provides free tickets to children, servicemen and women and their families, and sportspeople, funded through hospitality packages.
"We've got millions of tickets into the hands of British people. That's exactly what we said at the beginning of the process," Lord Coe told James Pearce."We've got millions of tickets into the hands of British people. That's exactly what we said at the beginning of the process," Lord Coe told James Pearce.
"Nearly two million people applied for tickets. There was a massive demand but we were always clear that more tickets would come available late on.""Nearly two million people applied for tickets. There was a massive demand but we were always clear that more tickets would come available late on."
Tickets are still available for sports including athletics, hockey and beach volleyball, as well as in the higher price bands for the opening and closing ceremonies.Tickets are still available for sports including athletics, hockey and beach volleyball, as well as in the higher price bands for the opening and closing ceremonies.
At a media briefing Lord Coe also said that the wet weather was "a problem and is causing us extra challenges" in particular at the equestrian venue of Greenwich Park and the Eton Dorney rowing and canoeing venue.At a media briefing Lord Coe also said that the wet weather was "a problem and is causing us extra challenges" in particular at the equestrian venue of Greenwich Park and the Eton Dorney rowing and canoeing venue.
He advised spectators to "bring wellies" to cope with the saturated ground.He advised spectators to "bring wellies" to cope with the saturated ground.
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