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Government bought 8,600 Games tickets Government bought 8,600 Games tickets
(about 3 hours later)
The government has revealed that it bought more than 8,600 tickets for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.The government has revealed that it bought more than 8,600 tickets for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
About 4,000 tickets, costing £916,000, were paid for by central government, with the rest - worth about £300,000 - bought at face value by staff, Games ambassadors or London councils. About 4,000 tickets, costing £916,000, were paid for by central government, with the rest - worth about £300,000 - bought by staff or London councils.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it wanted to maximise the economic boost from the Games.
But MP John Mann said it was an attempt to "bury bad news" during the Algerian hostage crisis.
Ministers used 60 tickets, the most expensive a £725 seat at the athletics.Ministers used 60 tickets, the most expensive a £725 seat at the athletics.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it had wanted to maximise the economic boost from the Games. Mr Mann told The Telegraph he compared the decision to release this information during the Algerian hostage crisis with an attempt by a former adviser to Labour Cabinet minister Stephen Byers to "bury bad news" during the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the US.
Culture Secretary Maria Miller said all invitations had been issued against strict criteria which included encouraging growth, participation in sports and volunteering. "People will be very cynical about the government doing this now when everyone is rightly concentrating on what is happening in Algeria," he said.
Costliest ticket
While former Treasury minister Lord Sassoon used the costliest ticket, Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt received the most tickets and watched two cycling events, diving, football and gymnastics.While former Treasury minister Lord Sassoon used the costliest ticket, Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt received the most tickets and watched two cycling events, diving, football and gymnastics.
Of the remaining tickets 2,381 were bought by staff who had worked long-term on the Games or Ambassadors.
A spokesman from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport told BBC News the decision to release information concerning tickets was made in advance.
"The London Olympic and Paralympic Games were a phenomenal success. To suggest that government should be reproached for playing a part in that by hosting delegations and promoting British interest and business on this international platform is ridiculous.
"It took a while to collate the required information and as with all written ministerial statements we notified Parliament earlier this week of out intention to publish."
The National Audit Office said 11 million tickets were sold to the London 2012 Games.
More than seven million people visited Olympic venues during the games with 2.5 million people visiting the Olympic Park.