On the day it was announced Tower Hamlets will welcome the Olympic torch, organisers and the borough’s Mayor are calling on schools to take advantage of a free tickets scheme for the 2012 Games.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games is making 125,000 tickets available to the capital’s youngsters.

Schools first register with the Get Set education programme which makes resources such as films and photos freely available to teachers.

They must then apply to the Ticketshare scheme and demonstrate Olympic and Paralympic values in their curriculum, such as by holding a sports day.

So far nearly 80 per cent of schools in the borough - 92 - have registered with Get Set but only 41 schools have taken the next step and applied to be eligible for tickets.

Lord Coe, the chair of LOCOG, said: “From my recent visit to Tower Hamlets I saw tremendous enthusiasm and excitement amongst young people in the borough for the Games.

“Now is the time for all Tower Hamlets schools to go one step further.”

Mr Rahman said he is calling on every school in the borough to take advantage of the scheme.

One in eight schoolchildren in London stand to see an Olympic or Paralympic event live through the programme.

Further information is available at london2012.com/getset.