15/03/2011

500 Days To Go Until London 2012 Games

Tickets to the Olympic Games are now on sale and Foreign Office staff around the world are marking this key milestone in the run-up to London 2012.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "In just 500 days, the world’s gaze will turn to the UK as the lights go up on the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games. The British people stand ready to welcome friends from across the globe, athletes and spectators alike, to what my friend and Chairman of the Games, Lord Coe, describes as the greatest show on earth."

The application process for tickets to the London 2012 Olympic Games will be open from March 15 until 26 April 2011. People buying tickets in the UK can apply at any point during this period. Residents outside the UK and designated European countries should apply for tickets through their local National Olympic Committee or its Authorised Ticket Reseller from 15 March.

Foreign Office staff around the world are marking the 500 days to go point with a wide range of activities. Mexico is holding a photography competition that will invite people to photograph the UK and show an image which represents us as an open, diverse, connected and creative country. Germany will be promoting 500 days to go at Berlin International Tourism Fair, and St Petersburg are running a ‘Summer meets Winter Olympics’ event including a volleyball in the snow competition.

The British Embassy in France is holding a big debate on the importance of education and sports to encourage young people to think about these issues. Malaysia is commemorating the occasion by signing an agreement between the British Council and the Malaysian Ministry of Council promoting the International Inspiration Programme, which aims to transform the lives of 12 million children of all age groups and abilities in schools and communities.

(BMcN/KMcA)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

15 May 2014
Callers To Be Refunded For Commonwealth Games Ticketing Problems
People charged for phone calls made to try and secure Commonwealth Games tickets, but only got an engaged tone, are to be given refunds. It was discovered that callers where charged despite not being able to get through, a mistake that organisers of the Games, Glasgow 2014, have apologised for.
29 January 2014
Scottish Govt To Giveaway 5,000 Commonwealth Games Tickets
Community groups, people with disabilities and young people are to be given up to 5,000 free tickets for the 2014 Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow. The Scottish government is leading the giveaway as part of its Legacy 2014 scheme aimed at recognising achievement.
13 May 2013
Two Thirds Of Commonwealth Games Tickets Priced Under £25
Ticket prices for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, being held in Glasgow, have been revealed, with two thirds starting at under £25, according to the BBC. Tickets for the opening ceremony at Celtic Park will start at £40 and the closing ceremony will be priced at £30. The men’s 100m final will range in price from £15 to £90.
20 June 2012
Police Crackdown On Black Market Olympic Tickets
Police are investigating 30 international websites and 970 individuals, many linked to serious organised crime, over the multimillion-pound black market in sports tickets in the runup to the Olympics.
04 July 2011
Over 750,000 Olympic Tickets Sold
Over 750,000 Olympic tickets were sold to almost 150,000 successful applicants in the first second chance sales window, which closed at 6pm on Sunday 3 July. It was only open to applicants who did not receive any tickets in the first round of sales, which took place between 15 March and 26 April. In total, over 3.