Coe sees huge demand as 2012 tickets go on sale
Source: Agencies |
March 16, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SEBASTIAN Coe is predicting massive demand when tickets go on sale to mark the 500-day countdown to next year's Olympics, another milestone in the multi-billion-dollar project that is changing the face of east London.
With a giant countdown clock unveiled on Monday night in Trafalgar Square, Coe's Olympic organizing team is prepared for a heavy crush when 6.6 million tickets are put up for sale online yesterday for the 650 competition sessions across 26 sports.
"It's a big day emotionally," Coe said. "It's a big day in reality of course."
Coe said the ticket launch marks the third biggest online retail site in history after eBay and Amazon. He said organizers have worked hard to prevent the system from crashing.
"I think there'll be a massive interest," said Coe, a two-time Olympic 1,500-meter champion who heads the local organizing committee.
"We've done everything we can to stress-test the system. I'm not going to sit here and tell you there will be no glitches.
"I really hope not. This is not without its challenges."
The tickets, ranging in price from 20 pounds (US$32) to 2,102 pounds (US$3,215), are being sold through a single official website.
Organizers stress the tickets are not being sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers can apply for tickets over a six-week period ending April 26. Any oversubscribed tickets will be distributed via a ballot or lottery system. Tickets will be allocated by June 24.
"You want Madonna, you want cup finals or Super Bowls, you go first-come first-served," Coe said. "Here, you stand no greater statistical chance" of acquiring tickets on the first day or last day."
With a giant countdown clock unveiled on Monday night in Trafalgar Square, Coe's Olympic organizing team is prepared for a heavy crush when 6.6 million tickets are put up for sale online yesterday for the 650 competition sessions across 26 sports.
"It's a big day emotionally," Coe said. "It's a big day in reality of course."
Coe said the ticket launch marks the third biggest online retail site in history after eBay and Amazon. He said organizers have worked hard to prevent the system from crashing.
"I think there'll be a massive interest," said Coe, a two-time Olympic 1,500-meter champion who heads the local organizing committee.
"We've done everything we can to stress-test the system. I'm not going to sit here and tell you there will be no glitches.
"I really hope not. This is not without its challenges."
The tickets, ranging in price from 20 pounds (US$32) to 2,102 pounds (US$3,215), are being sold through a single official website.
Organizers stress the tickets are not being sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers can apply for tickets over a six-week period ending April 26. Any oversubscribed tickets will be distributed via a ballot or lottery system. Tickets will be allocated by June 24.
"You want Madonna, you want cup finals or Super Bowls, you go first-come first-served," Coe said. "Here, you stand no greater statistical chance" of acquiring tickets on the first day or last day."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
