The international Olympic Committee (IOC) has accused several national Olympic committees, including Switzerland, of selling tickets on the black market at the Sydney Olympics.

Australian newspapers reported that the IOC is investigating complaints from the Sydney organisers after undercover officials were allegedly able to buy tickets on the street.

Foreign committees who are allocated tickets are not allowed to sell them inside the host nation.

The IOC has accused Switzerland, the United States, Russia, Spain and Venezuela of not sticking to these rules.

Reports say Sydney's City Council closed down a business selling Olympic tickets, some of which were traced back to the Swiss Olympic Committee.

However, the Swiss IOC has defended itself by saying that it has merely sold the tickets to the Swiss tour operator, Kuoni, and that it is therefore not accountable for what happens when Kuoni, which holds a ticket monopoly, decides to sell them in Sydney.

The Sydney Games organisers are also concerned that the demand for their own stock of tickets for the closing ceremony on October 1 will be undermined by ticket touts.

swissinfo with agencies

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