The application process for London 2012 Olympic is now closed with early indications suggesting that over 20 million tickets were applied for, with around 1.8 million people submitting requests for tickets.

Applications were received for every session in every sport, and across every price point.

Over 50 per cent of the 650 sessions are oversubscribed, meaning tickets will be allocated via ballots.

A total 6.6 million tickets went on sale to the public as part of this process, with over 95 per cent of applications coming from the UK.

However, nearly half of the total ticket allocation will be reserved for corporate and sponsor guests.

Track cycling, rhythmic gymnastics, triathlon, modern pentathlon, equestrian (cross-country) and both the opening and closing ceremonies are the first sell-out events from the initial public application process.

This means these events will go to ballot – ensuring the fairest possible ticket distribution – along with the majority of the sessions in swimming and tennis.

In what is the biggest ticketing exercise ever undertaken in the UK, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) will now check and de-duplicate applications before running ballots across sessions that are oversubscribed and then processing applications. 

LOCOG chair Sebastian Coe commented: “We are thrilled with the response right across the board, in all sports and all sessions.

“Certain events have seen massive demand – for example the opening ceremony, which is more than ten times oversubscribed – so there will understandably be disappointment and we will find a way to go back to those people with other tickets.

“What is most encouraging is that the majority of applications are for multiple tickets and for several sports, which shows that friends and family are planning to go to the Games together.”

Money will be taken from accounts from 10th May 2011, and customers will receive confirmation of exactly which tickets they have been allocated in June 2011.

Customers who were not successful in their initial application will be given further opportunities to apply for remaining tickets in June and July.

Applications for Paralympic Games tickets will open on 9th September 2011.

City.Mobi

Also in Europe today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to London. 

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

London.Mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.