London 2012: Olympic ticket resale website reopens
The ticket website has been out of action since the day it opened - 6 January
The website for people to sell Olympic tickets has reopened.
Rather than members of the public being able to buy the tickets immediately, Games organiser Locog will initially purchase them "at face value".
The unwanted tickets can be sold until 18:00 GMT on 3 February, and the public can buy them from April.
The website crashed on the day it opened and Locog commercial director Chris Townsend said: "We are sorry for any inconvenience caused."
The resale window had opened on 6 January but problems developed as the site, run by Ticketmaster, was slow to update sessions which had sold out. This resulted in the system closing that day.
Mr Townsend added: "We made a commitment to our customers to give them a safe, secure and legal way of selling Olympic and Paralympic tickets which they are no longer able to use. We are delivering on that commitment, and will buy any tickets that customers are no longer able to use.
"We believe this system - purchasing the tickets back from customers now, and offering them again from April, will result in a better customer experience for everyone."
The move follows a series of ticketing problems for Locog. The first sales period had to be extended after the site slowed down.
In the second round of sales, thousands of people thought that they had bought tickets. They were told the following day that they would not be charged, as they had not actually got any tickets at all.
Ten thousand tickets to watch synchronised swimming were put up for sale, yet they did not exist and customers have been offered a swap with seats at some of the Games' most sought after events like the men's 100m final.
However on 9 January, Locog partially reopened the site to sell Football and Paralympic tickets.
Police have warned it is a criminal offence to resell London 2012 tickets on the open market without the permission of Locog.
Don't scare workers, urges Cable
Hit makers
Cameron cheer
Chelsea in bloom
Ultimate puzzle
Comment number 126.
AnthonyD17th January 2012 - 16:33
I spent many years training, competing and supporting athletics mainly at my own expense. The moment it was announced we had been awarded the games, I was so excited at the prospect of watching some of the worlds greatest ever athletes compete in my home town. Ticketing process has been a shambles. Lord Coe has missed the point of the Olympics. I am left utterly disapointed.
Link to this (Comment number 126)
Comment number 91.
Jacobite17th January 2012 - 14:36
For those interested in watching the Olympics without spending thousands of pounds why not buy a Radio Times, select what events you wish to watch and then sit back in the comfort of your own home and cheer on your favourites.
No ticket problems, no traffic, no crowding, no queues, no fuss, no bother.
Link to this (Comment number 91)
Comment number 63.
Allan Clarke17th January 2012 - 13:15
Wanted to take family to games, as I well remember my parents memories of '48. Ordered £1400 worth in 1st round, got nothing. Couldn't log in for 2 hours in 2nd round, then found all we wanted had sold out.
The ticketing process has been a farce from the start, and our kids are soured on it all now, we'll spend our sports budget elsewhere this summer - like a lot of other families, I suspect!
Link to this (Comment number 63)
Comment number 41.
MA170917th January 2012 - 12:15
I would have thought a swap system would have worked; I've been lucky enough to get tickets for 2 events, but 4 days apart. I would like to sell one of the events and get another event so I only have to travel down once, stay overnight once, etc. There must be thousands of people in the same situation.
Link to this (Comment number 41)
Comment number 30.
Sons Of Albion17th January 2012 - 12:07
Would it not have been prudent to perhaps ask the 20 Premier League football clubs for advice on ticketing? You know,people who sell huge amounts of tickets on a weekly basis and demonstrably know what they are doing? This system appears to have been organised by an inexperienced church fete committee.
Link to this (Comment number 30)
Comments 5 of 9