Tickets for the disabled will be available at every venue, in every session and across all price categories while London 2012's ticketing process is inclusive and accessible therefore allowing disabled people to apply for tickets in the same way as non-disabled people, either online or using the paper application form.

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe said: "Our aim has always been to provide a wide range of services and ticket products for disabled people tailored to their needs, rather than a 'one size fits all' approach.

"We want to ensure that disabled spectators have as great a Games experience as anyone else and we are committed to providing services and facilities that meet all accessibility requirements."

When applying for a ticket, disabled spectators will be able to indicate an additional accessibility requirement, such as a seat down fewest steps for those who find stairs difficult; a seat on the end of a row for those who need extra room; a seat with a direct view of video information screens for people who are deaf or hearing impaired; or a seat close to the action for visually impaired people.

Spectators who need a wheelchair space will be able to apply for a ticket online and if their application is successful, they will be provided with a space wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or mobility scooter and an adjacent seat for a companion.

They can also use their application form to apply for tickets for accompanying family or friends, all of whom will be seated next to or as close as possible to the wheelchair space and companion seat.

London 2012 also announced 'Ticketcare', a scheme only available for those disabled people who do not need a wheelchair space but cannot come to the Games without a carer or Personal Assistant (PA).

Through the scheme, they apply for tickets through the normal application process and if their application is successful, they can then apply for a free additional carer or PA ticket by contacting the Ticketing Customer Services team.

To ensure everyone has an enjoyable Games-time experience, London 2012 will also provide a number of additional services for disabled people.

These will include free blue badge parking spaces at all venues; accessible shuttle bus options; a free mobility service to loan out manual wheelchairs and scooters; facilities for assistance dogs, audio description, induction loops; an adult changing toilet which includes a hoist at all venues; and spectator information in accessible formats.

The London 2012 ticketing website, www.tickets.london2012.com, has been designed to make the application process as simple and accessible as possible, they claim.

It offers BSL (British Sign Lanuage) videos to help deaf people navigate through the website and an Easy Read document is available to help simplify the process.

Screen Reader technology is also available online, without having to make a phone call, while there are dedicated pages on the London 2012 website and the ticketing website for disabled people to find the information they need.

People can also apply for tickets using the paper ticket application form contained in the Official Ticketing Guide, which can be collected from a local Lloyds TSB branch - or Bank of Scotland in Scotland only - and local libraries in Northern Ireland.

Alternative formats of the Ticketing Guide can be supplied upon request, please contact the Ticketing customer service team on 0844 847 2012 to request a copy in Braille or large print.

Tickets for the London 2012 Olympics went on sale on March 15 and will close on April 26 while tickets for the Paralympic will go on sale on September 9 this year.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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