More than half of Olympics applicants miss tickets

More than half of the sports fans who applied for tickets to the 2012 Olympics have missed out, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

An estimated 1.8 million people made 20 million bids for the 6.6 million tickets available, with 55 percent of applicants missing out completely, according to BBC London.

Unsuccessful applicants will be given priority when any unsold tickets go on sale, although tickets to many of the most sought-after events -- the opening and closing ceremonies and athletics finals -- are sold out.

"We understand people's disappointment, but those who have been unsuccessful in the first round will get first choice in the second round sales which will come later this month," a London 2012 spokesman said.

"Hundreds of thousands of great tickets are still available, everything from athletics to basketball, hockey and volleyball."

More than 50 percent of the 650 sessions available were heavily over-subscribed and triggered a computerised ballot.

Amnong those who missed out on Olympics tickets were London Mayor Boris Johnson, who confirmed last week his attempts to buy "quite a few" tickets had been unsuccessful.

"I am personally disappointed not to have got any tickets but I shall try again," he said.