London 2012 Ticket Prices Not Set
Ticket prices for the London 2012 Olympic Games cannot be set yet because of the ‘changing economy’, according to the chief executive of the organising committee, LOCOG.
LOCOG chief executive Paul Deighton told the government’s Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee that it was too soon to discuss pricing.
However organisers had begun trying to calculate ‘precisely’ how popular each sport would be to avoid unsold tickets and empty seats at venues, he added.
About 9.2m tickets for the Games are due to go on sale in 2011.
Deighton predicted in 2005 that 4.3m of these would cost £20 or less. However the recession, fluctuating exchange rates and the still-changing programme of sports meant he could not promise MPs this would remain the case.
‘We would not want to go towards that degree of specificity two-and-a-half years out,’ he said.
‘I will reiterate today that when we talk you through our pricing strategy next year, we will be able to demonstrate to you that we will absolutely meet our commitment to making this highly affordable.’
Deighton said a policy was being drawn up so unused or unwanted tickets were exchanged or possibly resold through the organisers to cut the risk of touting.
‘Olympic tickets are like Premier League tickets. The law is very clear. They cannot be resold at a profit. We will be very clear about working with the police.’
