British Olympic chief: Give spare tickets to troops

The head of the British Olympic Association has called for any spare tickets for the events at the London Games to go to some of the British troops drafted in at short notice to cover the shortfall in security staff.

Colin Moynihan, chairman of the BOA, said it would be a way of thanking the military personnel – many of whom have had to give up their leave following active service to cover the Games.

Moynihan told a news conference today: “I’m not responsible for tickets but if anyone deserves to fill any empty seats it’s those forces in their down time.

“It makes a lot of sense – if there are some tickets available, let’s respect their tremendous contribution and say thank you.”

Moynihan said the large presence of military personnel on the Olympic Park - some 3,500 have been brought in after security contractors G4S failed to provide the necessary number of staff – had already had a positive effect on the British team.

“I have gone out of my way on behalf of the BOA and the team to go and talk to them because I really what to thank them,” added Moynihan.

“I know the sacrifices many of then have made personally to be here to support the team and the stress they are under in delivering their day jobs.

“I want to reflect that every single member of the British team is 100% grateful to them for giving up their time at short notice to make sure we have a safe and secure Games.

“These guys are so into sport and are really supporting the team, and just today some soldiers down from Chelmsford were saying ’when we do get down time can we go out there and see the events’.

“If there are any spare tickets it makes eminent sense for the armed forces to have them and would be a great way to say thank you to them.”

London 2012 said they would be allocating extra tickets to the military.

A London 2012 spokesperson said: “We are hugely grateful to the troops for their support, and they are doing a great job.

“We have already given 10,000 tickets to the troops through our ticketshare programme and we are in the process of allocating and distributing extra tickets to troops now they are providing additional support to the Games.”