"My parents applied for tickets, and unfortunately they didn't get any," said Farah from his new base in Portland, Oregon, today.

"They applied for the 5,000 and 10,000 metres finals, but they were both sold out.

"They couldn't get any."

Farah added that he would be eligible for two tickets - but only if he reached the finals.

"We get two tickets each for family members, but we still have to pay for them," said Farah.

"And I won't be guaranteed to get them until I actually know I'm competing in the final, so I'd better get my act together!"

Perhaps his parents will get a late chance after all to watch their son, who now holds the European record for the 10,000m, to seek an Olympic medal to add to his European double of last year.

Meanwhile Donna Fraser, who finished fourth in the Sydney 2000 400m final behind fellow Briton Katharine Merry, has revealed that she has been unlucky in the ballot.

"A lot of ex-athletes have been very disappointed like me not to get any London 2012 tickets," she said.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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