Olympics football tickets back on sale

Hope Powell (left) and Stuart Pearce will lead the men's and women's sides at the London Games (PA)

Tickets for the London 2012 Olympics football tournament went back on sale today with 1.5million available at the six venues around the country.

Tickets were available for all the games including those involving the Great Britain men's and women's side and both finals, though the men's final was expected to sell out quickly.

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe visited Newcastle's St James' Park to promote the launch and said: "There is some extraordinary young British talent coming through which we can look forward to seeing.

"It will not just be British talent either - I remember watching the Olympic final in 2004 and Carlos Tevez was playing for Argentina, then Lionel Messi played in 2008."

The men's tournament is for players aged under-23, though each squad is permitted three over-age players, while the women's tournament is for players of any age.

There have been suggestions that Team GB coach Stuart Pearce may pick Ryan Giggs and/or David Beckham as one of the over-age players as they will not have been involved in Euro 2012.

Coe added: "That's all part of the process - having these pub conversations about who you would put in the team, but that is for Stuart Pearce to decide."

Prices start at £20 for a ticket although there are reductions for the young and those over 60. Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Team GB men's side will play the first of their three group games at Old Trafford on Thursday July 26 - the day before the opening ceremony of the Games.

This will be followed by Wembley Stadium on Sunday July 29 and the final group game at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Wednesday August 1.

The women's team is being coached by Hope Powell and kicks off their tournament on Wednesday July 25 at the Millennium Stadium, and their second match on Saturday 28 July is also at in Cardiff. Their final group game will be on Tuesday 31 July at Wembley Stadium.

The matches involving the other sides in the Olympic football tournament will be decided at a draw on April 24. Other venues involved are the City of Coventry Stadium and Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Coe confirmed that due to Olympics sponsorship rules London 2012 will to refer to St James' Park rather than the new title of the Sports Direct Arena, and similarly Coventry's ground will not be called the Ricoh Arena.

Coe said: "St James' Park is known around the United Kingdom, and around the world, as a football stadium."

PA