“Locog calls in the army (again)” goes the headline of the Guardian report saying that Olympics seats left empty by the “Olympic family” are being offered to the military and, potentially, to local school children.
So yet another cock-up and we fall back on drafting in the army, goes the story.
I take the opposite view.
After bringing in our boys and girls in the armed services to fill the breach left by G4S, it is only right that they get some freebies in the form of invitations to watch sports they like. This is not “drafting in”, it’s inviting those in uniform to enjoy some Olympics sport during their off-duty time. It is welcome recognition of our gratitude to them.
The same goes for local school children. Given the vast impact of the Olympics on Stratford and the East End, it is only right to take every opportunity to ensure that local people get a look in.
I would also say that the 70,000 volunteer Games Makers who are stewarding the games, ought to be offered some free tickets.
* Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
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9 Comments
God, I am *so* bored of the media’s constant whining … they must have wet themselves with joy when they found out that there were some empty seats at some events – something to moan about, yippee!
I think it’s right of them to highlight that a whole bunch of the 25% of tickets that went to rent-seekers, governments and bureaucrats, state and sporting, went unused (presumably because, as freebies, they didn’t value them anything like the same as people desperate but unable to pay super inflated prices for similar quality tickets).
I think Paul is also right to question what then happens to them. Perhaps there should be a standby type system, but at this late stage. If the people to which these tickets were given, if that turns out to be the case, can be identified, they should have their other allocation of tickets revoked and put back on the market. If they cannot then some kind of first come first served but with concessions to volunteers and helpers available.
Frankly in an event that has cost so much to put on, I find it exploitative to have “volunteers” – in the opening ceremony or anywhere else at the venues. Paying all these volunteers something approaching even minimum wage would cost them far less overall than Ken’s fiasco with the Reuben brothers cost in having to buy the land back from them.
You missed out the biggest absentee rent-seekers from your list – the corporate sponsors.
That’s who I meant by rent-seekers. I take it as read that the IOC, NOCs and governments are seen that way!
I have to say, I take a pretty dim view of your whinging, Paul and Stuart! I heard a similar take by an official on Radio 5 Live (“Media whinging” etc), and he was howled down by the others on the panel. They made clear that the ONLY reason they were talking about this issue was in response to widespread public comment on the issue. Having watched a fair amount, we like anyone else had noticed the large amount of empty seats, and being among those who had applied unsuccessfully earlier in the process, we were somewhat miffed, like many others. I agree, sometimes the media are very worthy of blame – not in this case.
I assume Paul, that these are the very same military who are conducting security arrangements – and I don’t assume they are not being paid reasonably for their efforts!
Jock, like most sporting events, there will be a huge reliance on voluntary people. Bye the bye, one of the reasons that “Big Society” is unlikely to take off (and also a reason why politicians of all parties try the trick on every time), is that this country is already saturated with volunteers, who love to think it is great that other people might do more of it. People do need to be paid sometimes, as you suggest, Jock.
Well, I’ve just got back from the fencing at ExCel and not an empty seat to be seen!
Thanks for the mention of the volunteers. I was really impressed with the way they managed the crowd and kept everyone in good spirits – looking forward to my stint in the Paralympics.
Have just watched the badminton and then the basketball on TV. Both venues were almost empty of spectators. There is no point in the government producing propaganda that “all venues are packed to the gunnells” when people can simply turn on their televisions to see that the truth is that there is a serious problem. After having viewed these events, it is clear that the extent of the problem is about more than seats reserved for officials or corporate sponsors – the whole ticketing system has gone badly wrong! Locog have some genuinely serious questions to answer.
We all assume that every other Olympics every event is packed full at Beijing and Athens many sports had empty seats. If there is spare tickets it seems perfectly sensible to give them to the army or volunteers
I think the athletes deserve to compete with a full audience, spectators who travel to the venues should be able to purchase additional tickets, especially locals. I hope future Olympics will use ticketing systems that make this possible, especially at the Olympic Park where there are 1000s of people sloshing around the park who would happily watch additional events if there are seats. A lot of them would pay something for the privilege, which would lessen the burden on the taxpayer. Dont forget that a lot of the seating capacity is temporary, constructed at a fairly large cost just for the duration of the games, and that many people tried to buy tickets and were unsuccessful, or were just priced out.