Colorado Springs, CO - CoSport, the authorized ticket reseller and official hospitality package provider of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), announced today the timeline for the launch of ticket sales for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Ticket sales will begin on March 15 - the 500 day countdown to the Opening Ceremony - and pre-registration is currently open for U.S. residents at www.cosport.com.

The first phase of ticket sales will be handled exclusively through an online request process, which begins March 15 and runs through April 22, 2011, at 12 midnight ET. During this request phase, all applicants will have an equal chance of being awarded their requested tickets. CoSport will begin to fulfill ticket requests from available inventory once this initial request phase has concluded. In the case that ticket requests exceed available inventory for any session, a lottery process will be conducted by CoSport at the end of April.

"The London 2012 Olympic Games promises to be one of the most compelling, exciting sporting events of the decade, and we are thrilled that fans will be able to watch the action live and in person by getting tickets through CoSport," said USOC Chief Communications Officer Patrick Sandusky. "Early interest in tickets for these Games tells us that America's athletes will be well supported in London as they strive to realize their Olympic dreams and represent the U.S. with pride."

For the initial ticket launch, more than 58,000 tickets will be available for purchase to more than 650 sporting sessions. More than 56 percent of tickets offered during this initial request phase will be priced under $150.
CoSport currently plans to commence a second phase of sales in June 2011, which will be first-come, first-served for any tickets unsold during the first phase of sales, and will also include any additional tickets that CoSport acquires from the London Organizing Committee in the future.
For customers interested in hospitality packages, CoSport expects to begin online sales of these packages later in March 2011. The hospitality packages will combine hotel rooms with Olympic tickets, allowing customers a single purchase to create their Olympic experience in London. Unlike ticket sales, there will be no request phase, and all sales phases of hospitality packages will be live sales on a first-come, first-served basis.

In recognition of Visa's support of the Olympic Games, the USOC is proud to accept only Visa for London 2012 Olympic Games ticket purchases.
Fans should visit www.cosport.com for more information or to register for future updates.

ENDS

The USOC is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole entity in the United States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. In addition to being the steward of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games.

For more information, please contact the USOC Communications Division at (719) 866-4529 or visit www.teamusa.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.