Boris Johnson offers 125,000 children free entrance to 2012 Olympics

Reward: the Mayor, pictured with Lord Coe, said the tickets would be a huge motivation to the capital's schools
12 April 2012

London council taxpayers were today rewarded for backing the Olympics when a free ticket scheme for thousands of schoolchildren was announced.

One in eight pupils will get the chance to attend the Games under the programme sponsored by Boris Johnson.

Up to 125,000 tickets will be available to youngsters accompanied by their teachers.

The Mayor said the prize would be a powerful motivational force in schools across the capital.

It will be open to pupils aged 10 to 18 whose schools have enrolled in the official "Get Set" syllabus, which teaches Olympic values.

Head teachers will decide which of their pupils goes to the Games on a range of awards days.

But Mr Johnson stressed the scheme is based not just on performance in class but also on sports records, leadership skills and improved behaviour.

The Mayor said as he unveiled the scheme at Hackney's Petchey Academy today that the tickets are a reward for council taxpayers' £20-a-year additional contribution to the Games.

"Schools across London will be able to use Olympic tickets to get the best out of their pupils by offering them as rewards for achievement," he said.

"Olympic tickets will be a fantastic motivating force for London's kids. I hope people will feel that this really is their Games."

He has paid £1.8million for City Hall's allocation of 90,000 tickets and has talked to potential sponsors to cover the cost. The remaining 50,000 are provided free by London 2012 organisers.

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