London 2012: IOC begins Olympics’ tickets investigation
The International Olympic Committee has begun an investigation into claims Olympics’ representatives were willing to sell thousands of tickets for the London Games on the black market. The IOC's ruling executive board met after fresh claims by The Sunday Times involving more than 50 countries.
This included allegations that tickets for top events were available for up to 10 times their face value. The IOC has referred the allegations to its independent ethics commission.The Sunday Times has submitted a dossier of evidence detailing claims that Olympic officials and agents had been caught selling thousands of tickets on the black market. The IOC could also review how Olympic tickets are distributed among member countries – more than one million were distributed to those taking part in the Games.
The Sunday Times alleges that during a two-month investigation in which reporters posed as Middle Eastern ticket touts, it found corruption involving people representing 54 separate countries.
Accusations include an allegation a member of the Greek Olympic Committee said he had "persuaded" Lord Coe, chairman of the London organising committee, Locog, to give Greece more tickets on the pretext demand had outstripped supply.
Locog denies the claim.
A spokeswoman said: "With regard to 'boasts' by the Greek Olympic Committee' (HOC) that discussions on tickets took
place with Sebastian Coe, we can confirm this is untrue.
"Seb received a letter from the HOC (as he did from other NOCs) and responded saying that tickets had been allocated in accordance with the IOC's ticketing policy. There was no further contact – either formal or informal – on this subject."
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