LONDON - London 2012 organisers highlighted a scheme offering free tickets to schoolchildren on Monday, the day some successful applicants in the paying public saw the first debits from their bank accounts.

Organisers said 125,000 tickets, including for showcase events involving sprint champion Usain Bolt, would be distributed to schools in the capital that had signed up to the 'Get Set' programme by Dec 16.

Related readings:  London 2012 ceremonies sold out after surge for tickets  Russia steps in to host 2012 Olympic meeting  London transport could hit 2012 Olympics  London 2012 to host Int'l Paralympic Day in Sept

A further 50,000 tickets would be available to schools outside London and 25,000 distributed by the British Olympic and Paralympic associations and Sport England and to soldiers through Tickets for Troops.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said after a presentation at a North London school that two-thirds of the tickets available would be for Olympic events but opening and closing ceremonies were excluded.

It would be up to schools to decide how to allocate their tickets.

More free tickets could also be handed out closer to the event to avoid the empty seats seen at previous Olympics.

"We thought one in eight was the right number," Johnson said after playing table tennis with pupils in a breezy playground. "You don't want to give away too many free tickets otherwise you devalue them.

"But there will be an opportunity, we think, for kids to get into events if they are under-subscribed and if the (Olympic) Park needs filling up on the day," he added.