Olympic row as 600 'VIPs' apply for Beijing passes

The row over the Olympics gravy train escalated as it emerged up to 600 "VIPs" applied for tickets and passes to the Beijing Games.

London Olympics chiefs have been inundated with demands from the Mayor's office, the London Development Agency, the Metropolitan Police, HM Customs and Excise and Visit London as well as many Government departments.

The majority claimed they had a special case for attending this summer's Games as a fact-finding mission to prepare them for the 2012 Olympics.

But most requests have failed due to strict limitations imposed by the International Olympic Committee and a shortage of tickets.

A list of 595 applications has been drastically cut back as the focus has switched to securing tickets and passes for top VIPS and the British team's backroom staff.

"It was the usual suspects applying," said a source. "Not just ministers but their vast entourages. Each believes they have a case, but they have little idea of how restricted access will be."

The IOC will allocate London VIP accreditations to the Prime Minister, the Queen - who is unlikely to attend - Ken Livingstone, sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe, Olympics minister Tessa Jowell and 2012 committee chairman Sebastian Coe and his chief executive Paul Deighton.

Among these are five passes to participate in the "observer programme" run by the IOC to offer on-the-jobtraining during the Olympics for key employees from the next host city.

There is also an acute ticket shortage. The UK has been given just 30,000 tickets compared to 120,000 in Athens. The London organising committee (LOCOG) has secured several hundred tickets but many of these will go on staff and sponsors. Working opportunities may be restricted to a tour of the athletes' village and attendance at the British Olympic Association's cocktail party.

Shadow Olympics minister Hugh Robertson and shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt are likely to attend, paid for by their party. Tory leader David Cameron is not expected to make the trip, attending instead one of the UK ceremonies to mark the handover of the Games from Beijing to London.

Mr Robertson said: "In my view three Government ministers should be in Beijing - the Prime Minister, the Olympics minister and the sports minister. This should not be seen as a huge jolly and I can't see why other ministers should fly out there at public expense rather than supporting the handover ceremonies in London."