New advice to buyers will stop criminals cashing in on Olympic ticket sales
01 March 2011
Advice has been published to make sure it’s criminals who miss out when tickets for the Olympic Games go on sale on 15 March.
Computer generated image of the Velodrome, courtesy of London 2012
Over 8 million tickets will be made available for the Olympic Games and a further 2 million for the Paralympics.
Organisers want to ensure that the use of the internet to buy tickets and accommodation packages, plus the huge demand for seats, doesn’t tempt people to lower their guard and leave themselves open to exploitation by criminals, either by parting with cash for non-existent tickets or by handing over their personal data and credit card details.
By following these simple steps anyone buying a ticket for the greatest sporting event in the world can be sure it’s the real thing and that their information is safe.
If you’re buying a ticket for the Games:
- The London 2012 ticket application process opens on the 15 March and you have until 26 April to apply for tickets through LOCOG as tickets are not allocated on a first come first served basis.
- The only way to apply for a ticket in the UK is at www.tickets.london2012.com This is London 2012’s official site. You can also get a postal application from any Lloyds TSB branch, or from any public library in Northern Ireland. Don’t buy a ticket from an unauthorised website or tout. You risk being scammed, and not getting the ticket you wanted and paid for.
- If you get a ticket for an event you can’t attend, you can return your ticket to get a refund through the London 2012 official ticket exchange. Your ticket will then be officially resold. Details of this will be announced in due course.
- There are only three official providers for Games Breaks and Hospitality Packages in the UK - these are:
Thomas Cook - www.thomascooklondon2012.com
Prestige Travel - www.prestigeticketing.london2012.com
Jet Set Travel - www.jetsetsports.com
- Other websites or companies will not be authorised to sell you a ticket as part of a package in the UK. Always check the terms and conditions to see exactly what you are being sold;
- Outside of the UK London 2012 tickets are sold through the country’s National Olympic Committee, or their authorised retailer.
- If you find tickets for sale before the 15th March 2011 or available from any unauthorised source at anytime, don’t buy them. They are not genuine. Report it to your local police, or London 2012 via brandprotection@london2012.com
For further information on the Olympic and Paralympic Games visit www.london2012.com