Olympic tickets can be re-sold to friends or family

The first round of the London 2012 ticketing process saw many consumers taking their chances, by spreading their money across a range of events in the hope of getting any tickets. Yet for some this meant being allocated more than they really wanted.

Key Points

• Unwanted tickets can be sold to friends and family

• An official ticket resale programme will be launched in 2012

• It is illegal to make a profit selling tickets online

A further sale on 8 July, for those who applied unsuccesfully in the first round, could leave even more people wanting to get rid of less favoured tickets if they get their hands on ones for preferable events.

Many consumers, however, aren't aware of their options when it comes to selling unwanted tickets.

What can I do with tickets I no longer want?

The London 2012 ticketing policy states that tickets are non-transferable.

Nevertheless, London 2012 has confirmed you can re-sell tickets to friends and family, regardless of whether you will attend the event with them. Spectators won't be asked for ID on entry.

However, the organisers advise that in the highly unlikely event that there is a problem with the tickets, they would need to contact the original purchaser to resolve it. This means it is worth ensuring you are contactable at the time of the event.

There will be an extra chance to sell unwanted tickets in 2012 (at no greater than face value) through the London 2012 official resale programme. It is thought further information will be released next year.

You should not, however, sell tickets online for a profit as this is a criminal offence. It is also illegal to sell tickets via online auction sites. London 2012 is working alongside the police to crack down on touts selling tickets unlawfully.

Are there still tickets left?

There are a few opportunities left to purchase tickets for the games.

• The window for those who didn't get tickets in the first application round opened today at 6.00am and will remain open until 3 July, although it does operate on a first come, first served basis and many have already been sold.

• For those who were successful in getting tickets in the first round but are after some more, there will be a resale from 6am on 8 July to 6pm 17 July, again on a first come, first served basis.

• There will also be over a million further tickets released from December 2011, which should be available right up until the Olympics and will also be available to those who didn't originally apply for tickets.

Although London2012.com is the biggest official seller of tickets there are other official sellers, Thomas Cook, for example, is selling tickets as part of hotel-stay packages and says it still has a good availability on its 'Games Break Plus' tickets.

You can check on London2012.com whether or not the site you're looking to buy from is official.