Carers have problems with tickets for London 2012 Olympics

London 2012 Olympics diary: Danny Boyle promises a cinematic treat for couch spectators

By Olympics Last updated: February 23rd, 2012

 

 

The London 2012 Olympic Games will be an intimate experience for the four billion television viewers, say Olympic insiders.

Creative director Danny Boyle is using his vast film background to present the Games in a different tele-visual fashion so that it won’t just be a faithful recording of what goes on inside the stadium, but rather a cinematic storytelling that those on the couch can enjoy in its own right.

About 20,000 seats will be cordoned off during the ceremony for performers and athletes.

****

Locog’s ticket scheme for disabled people and their carers has come under scrutiny – and found wanting – after staff gave out wrong information for more than seven months.

Carers had been told Olympic tickets bought through authorised ticket resellers in European countries would be eligible for the Ticketcare scheme, but, after meeting the required deadlines,  at least one carer has been told, ‘whoops, bad luck’.

Locog’s Ticketmaster told the carer: “Unfortunately, we have now been advised that ‘Ticketcare’ is not available with tickets purchased through authorised ticket resellers (ATRs). We apologise that information previously sent to you advised that you would be able to apply for these Ticketcare tickets, this has turned out to be incorrect.”

Understandably, the carer wasn’t too impressed and said the response was “appalling” because he had been strung along and given consistently wrong advice from both Locog and Ticketmaster in relation to their own ticket process.

It also raises European Law issues about discrimination and equality. Last week the London Assembly highlighted how only a sixth of potential carer positions had been allocated for the Olympics and Paralympics and has asked Locog to explain how this has occurred.

****

The Minister for Tourism and Heritage, John Penrose,  told parliament this week that the humanitarian and commercial issues surrounding the controversial sponsorship of the main stadium wrap by chemical giant Dow Chemical rests with Locog.

Mr Penrose distanced the government from any sponsorship decision making, although he noted concern about justice for the victims of the Bhopal disaster. Mr Penrose told Labour politician Barry Gardiner to “ask Locog”, as the government had just one board position out of 20 on the Olympic board and the decisions taken were outside of the government’s control.

“Asking the Government to respond on behalf of a private organisation on which we  have one board seat is, I am afraid, shooting at entirely the wrong target,” Mr Penrose said.

Meanwhile, Locog’s sustainability sponsor BP has come under attack from activists defacing their advertising signs in London with threats that “more BP branding to be targeted in the run up to the Olympics”.

Activist Bridget Peterson said they wanted to put a big black mark through BP’s unchallenged sustainability claims amid concerns about the company polluting tar sands, exploring the Arctic and restarting deepwater drilling.

****

Historic Olympic memorabilia, including Olympic gold medals belonging to Australian double-gold medal winning rower Bobby Pearce (1905-1976), will go to auction in London at Bonhams two days before the opening ceremony, with an estimate of £30,000-£50,000.

Pearce was famed for stopping during his heat at the 1926 Amsterdam Olympics, to allow a brace of ducks to cross the course, and then winning by 20 lengths.

Meanwhile, the GB rowing team is challenging the public to take a 2km trial on a rowing machine and submit their results. Details at http://www.nationontrial.org

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport