IT was not so much “faster, higher, stronger” as old-fashioned luck of the draw.

Past Olympians and Olympic hopefuls were among thousands of Oxfordshire sports fans whose hopes for tickets to the London 2012 Olympic Games were dashed by the complex online ticketing system.

But a lucky few were celebrating after finding out they will get the chance to be a small part of next year’s Games.

Many who missed out in the first round of applications got up at 6am last Friday to try to secure unbought tickets.

Rower Ken Lester, who remains the nation’s youngest male Olympian after competing as a 13-year-old cox in the 1960 Rome Games, missed out on all the rowing tickets he applied for.

The 64-year-old Olympian from Wallingford said: “I applied for quite a lot of rowing tickets and did not get any at all.

“My brother Richard, who won silver in the 1976 Games, did not get any, and my other brother, Robert, who rowed for Shiplake College and Wallingford Rowing Club, did not get any either.

“It is very annoying.

“In fairness, I can see that it is nice that everybody has some sort of opportunity, but there will be those competing next year whose husbands, wives, children or girlfriends will not be able to get tickets unless they are lucky enough — and yet there are lots of corporate packages.”

However, the British Olympic Association has announced that past Olympians will be entitled to buy four tickets — giving him fresh hope that he will see his successors rowing for Britain.

He said: “It is obviously better than I had previously thought. I may not get tickets for the finals, but at least it will give me another opportunity.”

Oxfordshire steeplechaser Hatti Dean, a medal hopeful for next year’s Games, also failed to secure tickets.

If she qualifies, she will be get just two tickets for members of her family to see her compete.

She said: “The only thing I would have liked is a bit more allocation for athletics clubs and supporters clubs, and people who have gone to watch competitions before.

“I am hoping most people there will be big athletics fans and I’m sure they will all get involved on the night.”

Among the lucky recipients of tickets was Trudi Lee, 56, from Bicester, who got tickets for the men’s 1500m finals, and her daughter Jenni, 27, who will be going to the boxing.

Mrs Lee said: “It is the luck of the draw. I always said that one way or another, I would get up there.

“I think whichever system they chose, there would be complaints.”

And 19-year-old former European School pupil Alex Murray, of Lechlade, secured two tickets for women’s beach volleyball.

He said: “I’m really hoping it will be Brazil versus Sweden.”