London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe commented, “We have three clear principles for our ticketing strategy – tickets need to be affordable and accessible to as many people as possible, tickets are an important revenue stream for us to fund the Games and our ticketing plans have the clear aim of filling our venues to the rafters. When we won the right to stage the Games, we made a promise to inspire young people to choose sport and our ticket prices will get as many young people as possible to the Games. The 1.3 million tickets in the Pay Your Age scheme and the London 2012 Ticketshare scheme reflect this ambition, and the fact that we will offer 2.5 million tickets at £20 or under will also deliver this aim. We have one very clear message to the public. ‘Sign Up’ to our ticketing website to get all the information you will need over the next five months as we build up to the start of ticket sales in March next year.”

London 2012 will have more tickets on sale for disabled people than any previous Olympic Games in history. Using the highly accessible ticketing website, there will be seating options available for visually impaired and hearing impaired people, as well as those who cannot manage steps and wheelchair users. The cost of a ticket for a wheelchair space will also include the cost for one companion seat adjacent to it.

Following further detailed venue planning, it is also likely that more tickets will be on sale than previously thought. Up to 8.8million tickets will now be available, an increase of 800,000 with 75% of these tickets being available to the public through the application process. Between now and when tickets go on sale, London 2012 will undertake an education process for the public to help them to understand the range of tickets available and how the application process will work.

Olympics Minister the Rt Hon Hugh Robertson MP said: “Spectators are a vital part of every Olympic Games, providing the atmosphere that inspires athletes to perform. I am confident we will have packed stadiums and venues with the range of tickets on offer meaning that people of all ages and budgets will have the chance to attend London 2012. London 2012 Ticketshare is also a fantastic initiative. Backed by our Olympic-style schools sport competition and the London 2012 ‘Get Set’ programme, schoolchildren from across the country will get a chance to experience the magic of the Games first hand and for free.”

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: “ One of the greatest legacies we can lever from the London Games is to see young people in the capital embrace the Olympic and Paralympic values. We want these Games to motivate them towards sporting and academic achievement and there’s no better way than by watching the world’s best sports men and women competing at the highest level.

Having invested so much I also want Londoners to have a real sense that these are their Games too. So it is right that, through the schemes aimed at youngsters, we can acknowledge their support by rewarding thousands of London kids with the unique opportunity to be part of this amazing sporting spectacle.”

The London 2012 ‘Sign Up’ programme was launched earlier this year. So far over 1.7 million people have signed up and are receiving news and discount ticket offers for sporting events. Those who have signed up will be among the first to find out when tickets go on sale and will save time when applying for tickets when they go on sale in 2011.