Tower Hamlets spends �17,000 on Olympic tickets
The Tories have criticised Tower Hamlets for spending �17,000 on Olympic tickets.
But the council says the tickets, which include four tickets costing nearly �1,000 each for the opening and closing ceremonies, will be given to residents who have made an outstanding contribution to sport and community in the borough.
A member’s enquiry by Tory councillor Craig Aston revealed that the council has bought 100 tickets for various Olympic events such as the men’s 400 and 1500 metre finals, synchronised diving, and beach volleyball
The tickets for next year’s Olympics also include four tickets costing �995 each, and eight more at �150 each, for the opening ceremony and closing ceremonies.
Limehouse cllr Aston said: “It’s outrageous that Mayor Lutfur Rahman should be spending �17,000 of taxpayers’ money on Olympic tickets in these difficult times.
“Tower Hamlets is rightly an Olympic host borough – but does that really justify splashing out tickets for the beach volleyball? And how can one of Britain’s poorest boroughs possibly justify buying tickets at �1,000 a piece for both the opening and closing ceremonies?”
A council spokeswoman assured all 100 tickets will be going to resident and are not for official use.
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“The Games are a once in a lifetime opportunity and we don’t want our residents to miss out. We have selected a cross sections of tickets to provide residents with a fantastic experience,” she said.
