Give London priority for 2012 Olympic tickets, town halls urge
LONDONERS should get priority for tickets for the 2012 Olympics because they are coughing up �625m in taxes, town halls are urging. The demand follows the Olympics organisers announcing how tickets are to be allocated
LONDONERS should get priority for tickets for the 2012 Olympics because they are its biggest sponsors’ by coughing up �625 million in local taxes, town halls are urging.
The demand follows the London Olympics organisers announcing yesterday how tickets are to be allocated which involves setting up a database for UK and EU citizens who show interest.
Eight million tickets are going on sale, but there has been concern in the national press today that not enough will go to Brits.
London Councils, the body representing 33 local authorities, is concerned that a database could raise expectations, but no guarantee of tickets.
“Londoners deserve something back for their tax investment as well as the disruption many face in the run-up to the Games,” said London Councils’ Chairman Merrick Cockell.
“We want t a solution that recognises the central role Londoners are playing for 2012. They are at least as important as any commercial sponsor.”
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Londoners are effectively the largest corporate sponsor of the 2012 Olympics, it points out, paying �625m in council tax.
Games organisers should give priority access’ in the same way commercial sponsorship entitles firms such as McDonalds or Coca-Cola to an allocation of tickets, London Councils believes. But it fears EU regulations might prevent such an arrangement.
One solution suggested could be granting allocations to each London borough, which could then be distributed to households by ballot.
