Athletes families turned away as ticket row spreads

[DrLeftover]

Parents and friends of Swedish and Singaporean swimmers as well as a host of other countries have been refused access into the aquatics centre over the past two nights, missing seeing their loved ones compete, while other parents have had hours of angst trying to sort tickets at the last minute.



Adding to their woes were the pictures of empty seats in prime positions.



The issue hasn't been confined to the aquatics centre. Parents have missed tennis matches at Wimbledon and only been able to get into Eton Dorney for the rowing and Excel for the boxing after fraught negotiations.



Gunilla Lindberg, a senior International Olympic Committee member intimately familiar with the London preparations as she was also on the London Coordination Commission, said the issue was chaotic and distracting for many athletes.



''It is so confusing for everyone. Parents keep calling the athletes, no one knows where the tickets are and it is not very good preparation for the athletes to be so stressed about it,'' she said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ol...re-in-confusion-over-London-2012-tickets.html

 

[Jazzy]

These parents, many who have waited all their life to see their child compete and can't? The athletes not seeing their family watching them must be so heartbroken. There is no excuse for this.

 

[Fatal Dawn]

I've read about how difficult to obtain these seats were and how many athletes' families could not get seats. I suppose they intended the venues for corporate sponsors and dignitaries.



At least they said they will give the seats to students and soldiers.

http://www.globalpos...tickets-stadium

 

[DrLeftover]

It is still happening.



There were more empty seats with the ticketing website saying UNAVAILABLE even after they were listed for sale.



Perhaps in once sense, Mr. Romney was right.

 

[DrLeftover]

This morning's update from the BBC

OLYMPIC TICKETS



The Olympic Games organisers have said more tickets will be available for athletics events, but that they do not know yet how many more seats. Locog chief executive Paul Deighton said: We will clarify that over the next 48 hours… all the tickets will be available online. Around 9,000 extra seats will be available for other events, as a result of the reallocation seats, previously accredited to the Olympic Family.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/