Corporate guests given 3,000 tickets for London 2012

The Government has been handed nearly 3,000 tickets for the 2012 Olympics for corporate hospitality, the Sports minister has revealed.

Hugh Robertson said the Government had been given more than 9,000 free tickets in total but a third of them would be used to invite "international business guests and dignitaries to make sure we secure an economic legacy to the Games".

The remaining tickets will mainly be sold through a ballot system, with 3,000 going to staff working on the Games and 2,400 sold to dignitaries from towns and cities hosting teams and events. Another 450 will be allocated as prizes for schools.

Mr Robertson said dictators barred from the European Union would not be permitted to attend.

A million fans lost out on tickets in a controversial ballot.