Oly boss slams 'unacceptable' ticket row

24 Jul 2012, 8:13 pm   -   Source: AAP

Australia's Olympic chief is unhappy about a ticketing row affecting Aussies but says he has been assured all will get their tickets.

Australia's Olympic team boss has branded as "unacceptable" a ticketing fiasco infuriating scores of Australians who have been unable to collect pre-paid passes in London despite queueing for hours.

But chef de mission Nick Green says he has been assured by CoSport, the ticket agent for the Australian Olympic Committee, the US and 10 other countries, that all Australians will get their tickets.

"People queueing for tickets is unacceptable," Green said on Tuesday, just three days before the 2012 Games opening ceremony.

"We were disappointed when we heard about it. The AOC are working and talking with CoSport. They've assured us that all Australians will get their tickets."

Green advised customers to contact the ticketing agents before turning up to the collection centre in London's Paddington.

Delays in getting tickets from the Games organising body LOCOG had a "flow-on effect", he said.

Priority was being given to customers who had bought tickets for the opening ceremony and events in the first two days of the Games.

"We should take a little bit of comfort that they (CoSport) are established in the market and one of the biggest re-sellers in the world."

Some angry customers lined up for nine hours to collect tickets, only to be turned away.

Adelaide woman Rochelle Joliffe, who got her tickets after three hours, said: "The system's rubbish. It's understaffed, no one has any idea, there's a lack of management. I'd be out of a job if I treated people like this."

Australians had the option of having their tickets sent to their home address after July 11, but anyone arriving in London before that date has to collect their tickets in the Games city.

Ticketing is not the only problem facing Olympic guests.

Spectators could also have their travel plans disrupted by industrial action on the Tube.

London Underground employees are to stage a work-to-rule from Friday in a dispute over implementing an Olympics pay deal, as well as the use of casual workers.

Australia's presence in the athletes' village, meanwhile, continues to grow.

Some 258 of the 410 Aussie competitors have arrived, with a further 30 due on Tuesday, including the boxing, taekwondo, table tennis and wrestling teams.

Green said some 220 Australians were expected to match in Friday's opening ceremony, and those worried about resting up for their events had the option of making an early exit halfway through proceedings.

"They are very close to the village so they can go back," he said.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube