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.”
Most Read
- 1 Bow Lock murder defendants blame each other for fatal attack
- 2 Woman treated at scene as 40 firefighters called to Bow tower block
- 3 Three stabbed in Chrisp Street chicken shop
- 4 Census 2021 indicates baby boom in one east London borough
- 5 Police officer sacked for 'turning blind eye’ to criminal husband
- 6 Latest data shows Covid admissions rising again at east London hospitals
- 7 8 charged after drugs raids in Hackney and Tower Hamlets
- 8 Council rapped by ombudsman after not following safeguarding procedures
- 9 V&A launches festival to celebrate 150 years in Bethnal Green
- 10 Man accused of Yasmin Begum killing denies murder and burglary
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.