TICKET prices for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics have been released – with ticketed sailing events for the first time in the history of the Games.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has revealed that there will be limited ticketing in Weymouth and Portland.

Tickets will cost £20 and £35 for preliminary events, while spectators to the official viewing area will pay £55 for the final medal races.

Concessions for under 16s will include the Pay Your Age Scheme while people aged over 60 will be offered £16 tickets.

A London 2012 spokesman said: “This is the first Olympics where there will be ticketed sailing events for the general public.

“In the past, small VIP boats have been ticketed for hospitality; at the Beijing Games, the sailing events had very limited hospitality tickets.

“What we’re trying to do is to encourage people to come and see it.

“It helps create a focal point to the competition for spectators.”

She added: “LOCOG is currently in discussions with Weymouth and Portland Borough Council with a view to the Nothe being used as a ticketed venue, but no formal decision has been made yet.

“We look forward to progressing our work in this area with the borough council , interest groups and the wider local community.”

Councillor Howard Legg, borough council spokesman for special projects, said people could still watch for free from Weymouth Beach, The Grove, Portland, Bowleaze and along the coast to Durdle Door.

He said: “The benefits of going to the Nothe are a closer proximity to the race finish and quite a big atmosphere.

“Tickets are still modestly priced compared to some of the London prices.

“LOCOG still have to secure the Nothe as a viewing area, that’s not necessarily going to be easy.”

Councillor Legg added that due to security reasons the sailing medal ceremony was likely to take place behind closed doors at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, followed by a public appearance.

LOCOG ticket pricing varies across the 26 sports of the Olympic Games from £20 to £725 for the athletics super final.

Tickets for the Olympic opening ceremony in London range from £20.12 to £2,012.

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe said the ‘three clear principles’ behind the ticketing strategy were affordability, accessibility and filling venues to boost revenue.

Tickets will go on sale in March next year, with 75 per cent of the 8.8 million tickets available to the public.

There are schemes for thousands of children to receive tickets and special seating options available for visually impaired and hearing-impaired people, as well as those who cannot manage steps and wheelchair users.

The full list of prices is available at www.tickets.london2012.com