125,000 free Olympic tickets for London, 50,000 for rest of UK

Schoolchildren in London will receive two and a half times more free Olympics tickets than youngsters in the rest of the UK combined, The Scotsman has learned.

Just 50,000 tickets will be distributed to schoolchildren across the "regions" - which includes all areas of England outside of London, plus Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - while a massive 125,000 will be handed out to children at schools and colleges in London.

That is despite organisers' repeated claims that this is a Games for the whole UK, and that all parts will feel the benefits.

The free tickets for the regions, as well as 50,000 of those earmarked for London, will be funded through a scheme called Ticketshare. The scheme works by charging a levy on anyone buying hospitality tickets for the Games - the money raised is then used to pay for the free tickets for the children.

The additional 75,000 will be given out to youngsters living in the UK capital by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

"It seems that everywhere outside of London has been an afterthought for the Olympic organisers, and it is disgraceful that schools are going to have to scramble for tickets," said SNP sports spokesman for Westminster, Pete Wishart MP. "The allocation for schools and colleges is unfair and inadequate and should be revisited by the organising committee."

He added: "This was hailed as a Games for the whole of the UK, but on every measure, from the award of construction contracts to legacy spending and now tickets, Scotland has been short-changed and sidelined.

"The UK government is failing to honour its assurances that people across the UK will benefit from the 2012 Olympics."

In response to Mr Wishart, the Secretary of State for the Olympics, Hugh Robertson, said the distribution of free tickets outwith London would depend on the number of schools and colleges that applied to the scheme.

However, so far, only 3.3 per cent of schools and colleges in Scotland have been accepted to join the Get Set Network - which makes them eligible for the free tickets - while just 38.8 per cent have registered with the Get Set Programme, which gives them access to materials which gives teachers the chance to promote the Olympic Games in the classroom, involving young people in the "excitement and inspiration" of the event.

To be accepted on to the network, schools need to prove that their school "lives" one or more of the Olympic and Paralympic values - and describe how staff will build on the "existing commitment" to put students on the "road to 2012".Across the UK, 11.7 per cent of educational establishments have been accepted and 30.6 per cent in London.

"To be eligible, schools and colleges need to apply to join the Get Set Network, part of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games's (Locog) education programme," said Mr Robertson.

"50,000 of these tickets will go to schools and colleges in London, and 50,000 will go to schools and colleges across the rest of the UK. In addition, the Mayor of London has provided 75,000 additional tickets for London schools and colleges."

Organiser Locog claims on its website: "London 2012 Ticketshare . . . we aim to be fair."