* * *

 

 

The embarrassing gaffe, blamed on a human data inputting error, meant that thousands of extra tickets for the event, which wasn't initially oversubscribed, were sold to customers even though they didn't exist.

 

Some three thousand customers who bought the non-existent tickets have been contacted by Games organisers Locog with an offer to swap their synchronised swimming tickets for other events they also applied for but were not successful in obtaining.

 

In theory, someone who had ordered two synchronised swimming tickets could now be able to exchange them for some to the more oversubscribed events such as track cycling and athletics.

 

This means those hoping to secure seats during the contingency sale later this year (when the number of available seats will be finalised) could miss out.

 

A spokeswoman for London 2012 said: "As a result of finalising the seating configurations in our venues and reconciling the millions of Olympic and Paralympic ticket orders against the seating plans for around 1,000 sporting sessions, we have discovered an error in seats available in four synchronised swimming sessions.

 

"In December we contacted around 3,000 customers who had applied for tickets in the four sessions during the second round sales process.

 

"We are exchanging their synchronised swimming tickets for tickets in other sports that they originally applied for."

 

The human error is believed to be responsible for 20,000 tickets being put on sale in the second round of sales rather than 10,000.

 

The alternative tickets will come from the pot of one million for all events that are due to go on sale in May once the seating configuration has been finalised at all the venues.

 

The process for people to resell any unwanted tickets in their possession opens on Friday.

 

This is the latest ticketing issue to blight Locog's reputation after hundreds of thousands of applicants failed to secure tickets during the first ballot and the first-come-first-served second sales period.

 

Users reported issues with the ticketing system and many were disillusioned by the way the ballot operated, claiming that it favoured those who could put speculate by bidding for many tickets.

 

Disappointed fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Olympic sport at a London 2012 venue can still buy tickets to the gymnastic qualifiers, also serving as the test event, at London's O2 Arena next week.

 

Tickets for Visa International Gymnastics are on sale now priced between £10-£20 for full price tickets and £5-£10 for young people and seniors. Tickets are available for men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics sessions and trampoline.