Sports fans got a marathon treat yesterday as it was revealed 8.8 million tickets costing as little as a few pounds will be available for the 2012 Olympics. Organisers declared 90% will be £100 or under with those over 60 paying a flat £16 and children paying their age in pounds. Two-thirds of tickets will be £50 or less and 2.5 million priced under £20. Those wanting the best seats will have to pay up to £2,012 for the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium.
The showpiece men's 100metres final will cost between £50 and £725 and the women's 100m final from £50 to £450. Cycling finals will be £50 to £325 and the diving climax £50 to £450. Hailing the super-cheap deals yesterday, London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said: "Tickets are an important revenue stream for us to fund the Games and our ticket plans have the clear aim of filling our venues.
"When we won the right to stage the Games, we made a promise to inspire young people to choose sport and our ticket prices will get as many young people as possible to the Games."
Organisers, who need to get 25% of revenue from ticket sales, have increased the number available for the 26 Olympic sports from eight million to 8.8 million.
About 75% of this total will be available to the public and go on sale in March.
Approximately 1.3 million tickets will come under a promotion which aims to get both young and old into the stands. Organisers said by charging a high fee for key contests they can afford to supply cheaper tickets to watch stars such as GB heptathlete Jessica Ennis.
Anyone 16 or under at the start of the Games on July 27, 2012 will pay their age in pounds. Those aged 60 or older by the same date they pay a flat £16.
Events taking place on public roads such as the marathon or road-cycling will be free.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said: "Having invested so much, I want Londoners to have a real sense that these are their Games too."
There will also be a Ticketshare scheme in which thousands of schoolchildren will get tickets.
A levy on the price of prestige hospitality packages will allow 100,000 tickets to be donated to schools in London and around the UK.
Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson said: "Spectators are a vital part of every Games. I'm confident we will have packed stadiums."