The International Olympic Committee is seeking to improve the ticketing system for upcoming Games in Vancouver and London to avoid the problem of empty seats that occurred in Beijing this year.

The IOC and London organizers, meanwhile, expressed confidence Thursday that the 2012 Olympics will be a success despite the global economic downturn. And London’s Olympic chief said the Games will be “secure” from terrorism.

Olympic officials concluded week-long meetings aimed at passing on lessons learned from the Beijing Games, which the IOC described as “an indisputable success” that could lead to further social, economic and political progress in China.

The Beijing review was meant to transfer knowledge to upcoming host cities, particularly London for 2012. Organizers of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games and 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, also took part. So did officials from the four cities bidding for the 2016 Summer Games: Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

“The 2008 Games set new standards for organization, venues and athletic performances, but we can always improve,” IOC Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli said. “I’m confident that the London organizers will host a first class event with a uniquely British atmosphere.”

Ticketing and empty seats were singled out as key issues. While tickets were sold out in Beijing, there were still vacant seats at some of the venues, Felli said.

He said this may have been because ticket-holders did not stay at the venues for long or back-to-back sessions. Also, some tickets were allocated to groups across China which may not have shown up, he said.

Some tickets also ended up on the black market, while fake tickets were sold to unsuspecting fans in online scams.

“We are already correcting this with future organizing committees,” Felli said.

Demand for Vancouver tickets has exceeded expectations. By the time the first five-week request period ended on Nov. 7, Canadians had asked for C$345 million worth of tickets. A lottery will be used to allocate tickets for 120 of the 170 sessions at the Games.

Normally, tickets are allotted to national Olympic committees. Felli said there was a demand from 152 national committees in Beijing, compared to less than 100 in Athens in 2004.

Preparations for the London Games have been affected by the global financial crisis, with organizers struggling to secure private financing for the athletes village and other projects.

Felli said the IOC is confident that Vancouver, London and Sochi are in a sound position because of long-term government investments.

“We still believe that the Olympic Games is a very important tool in the economy to motivate people to do something in life,” Felli said.

London has an overall 9.3 billion pound (C$17.6 billion) budget for construction, infrastructure and regeneration. London organizing chief Sebastian Coe said the separate Games-time operational budget of two billion pounds (C$2.57 billion) is “balanced and on target.”

“We move forward mindful of the changing economic environment, but remaining confident that we can stage Olympic Games and Paralympic Games that the nation wants to see,” Coe said.

He denied that London organizers were “scaling down” the Games.

“We will deliver a Games that serves the athletes as well as any previous Olympics and we hope even better,” he said.

Speaking a day after more than 100 people were killed in terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, Coe pledged to provide a safe Games. He said London’s police and intelligence forces have an international reputation for dealing with terrorism.

“I say that with no complacency at all,” he said. “But our security plans are under way and we will deliver a secure Games.”

In a three-page “fact sheet,” the IOC hailed the Beijing Games for its near flawless organization and for strengthening the global reach of sport and bringing public infrastructure improvements to China.

“While some of the positive benefits were immediately apparent, others will emerge with time,” it said.

The IOC cited environmental and public health advancements, but made no direct mention of controversies on human rights and press freedom. Some Internet sites were initially blocked at the main press Center, some foreign journalists were physically harassed, and no demonstrations actually took place at specially created “protest zones.”

“The Games provided intangible benefits that can lead to further social, economic and political progress,” the IOC said. “Unprecedented international attention from journalists, activist organizations and foreign leaders highlighted China’s strengths as well as its shortcomings.”

source: robladin.com and google.com