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Tickets for football at London 2012 go back on general sale

 

Martyn Ziegler
Wednesday 30 November 2011 01:00 GMT
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Lord Coe has hailed the country's young football talent
Lord Coe has hailed the country's young football talent

Tickets for the London 2012 Olympics football tournament went back on sale yesterday with 1.5 million 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 sides and both finals, though the men's final was expected to sell out quickly.

London 2012 chairman Lord 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 26 July – the day before the opening ceremony of the Games. This will be followed by ties at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 29 July and the final group game at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Wednesday 1 August.

The women's team is being coached by Hope Powell and kicks off their tournament on Wednesday 25 July at the Millennium Stadium, and their second match on Saturday 28 July is also 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 24 April. Another venue involved is Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Coe confirmed that due to Olympics sponsorship rules London 2012 will refer to St James' Park rather than the new title of the Sports Direct Arena.

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