Thomas Cook halves cost of Olympic packages

Thomas Cook has halved the cost of some Olympic breaks to generate sales with only weeks to go.

The four-day sale, with discounts of up to 50%, is available through Thomas Cook shops, online at www.thomascooklondon2012.com and through its sales centre and ends at midnight tonight.

The official short break provider to the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, denied in March that it would discount tickets, saying it had already sold 70% of its allocation, see previous story.

But on Friday the tour operator said there were more tickets available with a month to go than anyone predicted.

Stephen Vaughan, managing director of Thomas Cook's London 2012 partnership said, "It"s no secret that there are generally more tickets available to the Games than many people predicted there would be with a month to go.

"This very special and limited offer on some of our remaining Games Breaks is in response to what we know our customers want - guaranteed seats and hotels that offer them great value."

The sale includes athletics, swimming, hockey, beach volleyball and the Opening and Closing ceremonies across a range of prices.

To watch Team GB versus Belgium in the woman"s hockey plus a night at the Travelodge Kew Bridge is now £149pp, down £150 from £299pp.

For packages including tickets to the Opening Ceremony and men and women"s beach volleyball plus two nights at the Holiday Inn Mayfair, the cost is now £3999pp, down £1000 from £4999.