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Glasgow 2014: Games boss 'sorry' as tickets fiasco continues | Glasgow 2014: Games boss 'sorry' as tickets fiasco continues |
(35 minutes later) | |
The organisers of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have apologised for an ongoing fiasco with ticket sales which has now entered a second day. | The organisers of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have apologised for an ongoing fiasco with ticket sales which has now entered a second day. |
Chief executive David Grevemberg said they had "let a lot of people down" and were "very sorry". | Chief executive David Grevemberg said they had "let a lot of people down" and were "very sorry". |
The apology came after the online system was unable to cope with demand for 100,000 extra tickets on Monday. | The apology came after the online system was unable to cope with demand for 100,000 extra tickets on Monday. |
Glasgow 2014 said tickets were still on sale but the website was experiencing "some recurrence of issues". | Glasgow 2014 said tickets were still on sale but the website was experiencing "some recurrence of issues". |
The latest statement from the Games' organiser said: "As traffic has increased, we have seen some recurrence of issues people were having with the ticketing website. | The latest statement from the Games' organiser said: "As traffic has increased, we have seen some recurrence of issues people were having with the ticketing website. |
"We are continuing to sell tickets, but at the same time we need to investigate the cause of these issues and monitor the queue closely. | "We are continuing to sell tickets, but at the same time we need to investigate the cause of these issues and monitor the queue closely. |
"We will provide an update on this website and our social channels on a regular basis." | "We will provide an update on this website and our social channels on a regular basis." |
By Tuesday lunchtime, tickets for diving, swimming, mountain biking, track cycling and the triathlon had all sold out. | By Tuesday lunchtime, tickets for diving, swimming, mountain biking, track cycling and the triathlon had all sold out. |
The tickets, for all 17 sports and the opening and closing ceremonies, went on sale on a first-come, first-served basis at 10:00 on Monday. | |
It quickly became apparent from comments posted on social media sites that the online site could not cope with demand. | It quickly became apparent from comments posted on social media sites that the online site could not cope with demand. |
Some people said they been trying to get tickets for up to 24 hours. People also reported problems with the phone booking system. | Some people said they been trying to get tickets for up to 24 hours. People also reported problems with the phone booking system. |
Others told of successfully getting through online, only to be returned to the queue while attempting to pay. | Others told of successfully getting through online, only to be returned to the queue while attempting to pay. |
Glasgow 2014 was forced to close the site at midnight to investigate the problem. It re-opened again in the early hours of the morning but is not glitch free. | Glasgow 2014 was forced to close the site at midnight to investigate the problem. It re-opened again in the early hours of the morning but is not glitch free. |
'Incredibly frustrating' | 'Incredibly frustrating' |
Chief executive David Grevemberg told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme the situation was "totally unacceptable". | Chief executive David Grevemberg told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme the situation was "totally unacceptable". |
"We let a lot of people down which we are very sorry for," he said. | "We let a lot of people down which we are very sorry for," he said. |
"It was an incredibly frustrating and disappointing day yesterday. | "It was an incredibly frustrating and disappointing day yesterday. |
"It's just not in keeping with the experience we are trying to create with Glasgow 2014. To put it simply, the system just did not cope. | "It's just not in keeping with the experience we are trying to create with Glasgow 2014. To put it simply, the system just did not cope. |
"Despite being fully tested, it just did not cope with the churn." | "Despite being fully tested, it just did not cope with the churn." |
Disappointed sports fan Peter Charlton told BBC Scotland: "People do want to buy the tickets but at the same time, they do have a life to lead. There I am sitting there seven hours later and still waiting. | Disappointed sports fan Peter Charlton told BBC Scotland: "People do want to buy the tickets but at the same time, they do have a life to lead. There I am sitting there seven hours later and still waiting. |
"Quite bluntly, it is a farce." | "Quite bluntly, it is a farce." |
After waiting six and a half hours, Jane Waller managed to get two tickets for the gymnastics and one for the Velodrome. | After waiting six and a half hours, Jane Waller managed to get two tickets for the gymnastics and one for the Velodrome. |
But as she was about to pay, she was put back into the queuing system. | But as she was about to pay, she was put back into the queuing system. |
"I wasn't sure if I'd been charged or not so I ended up having to phone my credit card company," she said. | "I wasn't sure if I'd been charged or not so I ended up having to phone my credit card company," she said. |
'Not acceptable' | 'Not acceptable' |
"It's just a fiasco. I was really looking forward to telling my daughter I had tickets for the gymnastics but unfortunately I haven't now." | "It's just a fiasco. I was really looking forward to telling my daughter I had tickets for the gymnastics but unfortunately I haven't now." |
Mr Grevemberg said: "People waiting seven hours is just not acceptable, or that people were not able to complete transactions. | Mr Grevemberg said: "People waiting seven hours is just not acceptable, or that people were not able to complete transactions. |
"We are taking this very seriously and are continuing to deal with it." | "We are taking this very seriously and are continuing to deal with it." |
He said that after closing down the site at midnight, selling began again at about 01:00. | He said that after closing down the site at midnight, selling began again at about 01:00. |
"Obviously demand was lower because it was the middle of the night but we have had positive indications this morning, but it is not problem free," he said. | "Obviously demand was lower because it was the middle of the night but we have had positive indications this morning, but it is not problem free," he said. |
"Ultimately, we have tickets to sell and want those tickets to be sold." | "Ultimately, we have tickets to sell and want those tickets to be sold." |
Mr Grevemberg said tens of thousands of tickets had been successfully sold. | Mr Grevemberg said tens of thousands of tickets had been successfully sold. |
"We are asking people to be patient and bear with us," he added. | "We are asking people to be patient and bear with us," he added. |
Have you tried to buy tickets? Do you have tickets? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Commonwealth tickets' in the subject heading and including your contact details. | Have you tried to buy tickets? Do you have tickets? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Commonwealth tickets' in the subject heading and including your contact details. |