London Olympics Hope As Ticket Cash Goes

Sports fans will find out today whether they have managed to get tickets to the London 2012 Olympics.

Fans may still have to wait until June 24 to find out what events they have been allocated tickets, but money should have been charged to bank accounts.

It means that by the weekend people should have an idea whether they are going to the Games after the first round of ticket sales.

Some, who originally thought they had missed out, may have got lucky and gained a ticket that was reallocated from a "problem" account where the money could not be charged. It is thought this could amount to tens of thousands of tickets.

London 2012 has made three attempts to get payments from these accounts.

About half of the would-be buyers have managed to fix the card problems or top up funds in their accounts so they do not miss out on the chance of a ticket.

Outstanding orders have gone back into the system.

In total, 1.8 million people made 20 million bids for tickets to the London 2012 Olympics - but 6.6 million were on sale to the public .

Three-time Olympic cycle champion Bradley Wiggins , who is hoping to defend his team pursuit title at London 2012, was among the thousands who were left empty-handed.

Ballots were run on the oversubscribed events, which included the "must-see" men's 100m final, the opening and closing ceremonies and cycling events.

London 2012, which may be confident of already hitting £400m of its £500m target from ticket revenues, plans a second round of ticket sales later this month or early next month.

The remaining tickets will be sold on a first-come first-served basis, with people who have missed out being at the head of the queue.

Men's and women's football, handball, hockey and basketball are among the sports where tickets are still up for grabs.

Earlier this week, Olympics chairman Lord Coe said: "The fact that we had 2,500 price points, that two thirds of them went to ballot straight away, comforts me.

"I clearly understand the disappointment of those who didn't get tickets but it is very important to recognise there are new stages - we will have a first-come first-served second round for people who haven't got any tickets at all.

"Of course, as we go through that process, if there are tickets available at the end... we will seek to distribute them."