London 2012 officials have responded to complaints from athletes, including Sir Chris Hoy at the last Olympics in Beijing, who have had problems at previous Games obtaining tickets for their families.

The athlete purchase ticket programme will be activated in 2012, and aims to include every athlete in every session in every sport, although in some cases competitors may be restricted to just one ticket.

Tickets will be offered to athletes before and during the Games, once the full list of competing athletes participating in each session has been finalised.

"We have always said that athletes' needs are at the heart of the Games, so we are delighted to be able to guarantee that athletes can share this once in a lifetime experience with some of their biggest supporters – their families and friends," said Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012.

A record 11,028 athletes competed in the Olympics in Beijing while 4,200 took part in the Paralympics.

The plan has been backed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"The athletes are central to the work of the IOC and it's great to see this initiative of the IOC Athletes' Commission come to fruition," said Denis Oswald, the chairman of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Coordination Commission, who today completed their seventh visit to London.

"I'm glad that the IOC and LOCOG have been able to create a programme that will ensure that athletes can purchase tickets for their families and friends, so that they too can share the culmination of a journey that for many will have begun decades ago."

The sale and distribution of tickets to athletes, families and friends, will be managed through each country's respective National Olympic Committee (NOC).

London 2012 will set aside approximately 70,000 tickets for sale under this programme.

All transactions to the athletes must be made at the face value of a ticket, with no addition of mark-ups or fees, Coe warned.

"This is fantastic news for all athletes competing at London 2012, allowing the athletes to have those closest to them sharing their special moment," said Jonathan Edwards, the chairman of the London 2012 Athletes' Commission.

"I'm delighted at the continuing commitment LOCOG is showing in making London 2012 an outstanding experience for the world's best athletes."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]