£1,600 for late tickets to opening ceremony

Hundreds of tickets for the Olympic opening ceremony went on sale today — but the last chance to see Danny Boyle’s show will cost £1,600.

Organisers said the seats were made available at the last minute after final capacity changes by the production team.

Buyers will have to collect the tickets at the stadium, but there will be no box office sales on the day. And they will only see fewer than half of Britain’s Olympic team, as team officials confirmed today that only 266 of the 542 athletes would be in the parade.

With director Boyle’s opening ceremony one of the latest-running ever, many athletes such as swimmers and cyclists competing in the coming days do not want to be late to bed while others are still training abroad.

Flagbearer Sir Chris Hoy may have to be flown into London by helicopter from his training base in Wales to avoid road congestion.

Mystery still surrounds the identity of who will light the cauldron in the Olympic stadium. British Olympic Association chief Colin Moynihan joined the debate today by saying champion rower Sir Steve Redgrave should have a “significant role” in the ceremony.