Half of 1.8m applicants for Olympic Games tickets will miss out

Up to half of the 1.8 million applicants for 6.6 million Olympic tickets will be left empty-handed after the ballot, it emerged today.

Many applicants have missed out because, contrary to official advice, they have opted for high-demand events such as athletics finals and the opening ceremony.

Games organiser Locog said applicants were on average getting about 10-20 per cent of their order.

Those who have been left empty-handed in the ballot will be given the first choice of the remaining tickets within weeks. In a third sale before Christmas all the remaining tickets will be put on sale on a first-come-first-served basis.

Locog has now taken two-thirds of payments and the process will be complete by Tuesday.

Applicants will learn by June 24 what tickets they have won. The procedure has been criticised by consumer groups for leaving customers in the dark.

A Locog spokeswoman said: "We had over 20 million applications, so the reality is that many events have been oversubscribed."

London's main Olympic borough is in talks with Games bosses about getting tickets for events. Newham mayor Sir Robin Wales has set up a fund to help pay for the tickets for residents. The borough will raise cash for the fund by letting out its buildings during the Games.