Olympics: 50,000 free tickets up for grabs for children and young people to watch Olympic football at Hampden

CHILDREN and young people are to be given 50,000 free tickets for Olympic football in Scotland.The tickets will be on offer for the eight men’s and women’s football matches to be played at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

• 50,000 tickets to be given away to children and young people for Olympic football in Scotland

• Ticketshare scheme to include schools, sports clubs, charities and youth projects

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the Ticketshare scheme allocation from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) today.

Ms Sturgeon said: “This is an exceptional opportunity for children and young people in Scotland to be part of the whole Olympic experience and to encourage their participation in sport.

“Having the Olympic football tournaments here in Scotland is an exciting chance to truly get into the spirit of the Games and I would urge everyone who can to come along. I hope to see a great turn-out from across the country.

“Away from Hampden, Glasgow’s Merchant City Festival will include a ‘2012 Experience’ on matchdays and entertainment will also feature at stations and on the streets around the stadium.

“These matches will have a unique Olympics atmosphere and provide the ideal family day-out, with world-class matches, including the reigning Euro 2012 champions Spain.

“It’s a fantastic chance to promote Scotland to a global audience; every country playing at Hampden will be made to feel enormously welcome.”

Tickets have already been made available to Scottish schools participating in the Get Set initiative through the Ticketshare scheme but this has been extended, opening access to children through sport clubs, charities and youth projects.

Tickets are also still available for sale for all matches.