Tokyo 2020 Targets July for Ticket Prices

(ATR) Games organizers tellAround the Rings that Tokyo 2020’s ticketing system will be modeled on the London 2012 Olympics.

After Tokyo 2020’s second panel discussion to review ticket pricing on Tuesday, reports emerged in the Japanese media that the most expensive opening ceremony tickets for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will cost around $2,620 and $1,311 respectively.

Tickets for Olympic competitions are set to be priced from about $18, Kyodo News reported.

Tokyo 2020 declined to confirm any figures, saying they are yet to be finalized.

For the London Olympics, there were 8.8 million tickets available with a wide range of prices – 90 percent of tickets were pegged at $135 or less, with about 25 percent costing $27 or less.

With golf and rugby and the five new sports for the Tokyo Olympics, there is more scope for 2020 chiefs to increase income from ticketing than London 2012.

Tokyo 2020's spokesman Masa Takaya told ATR that the ticketing panel has agreed a basic policy of "maximizing ticket revenues", based on the London 2012 Games ticketing model.

It has decided to set a wide range of prices "so that various people, especially young people, can attend".

"At today’s meeting, the panel further discussed different approaches aimed at achieving full stadiums. We will continue discussions on pricing specifics," he added.

Confirmation of ticket prices across the ceremonies and 33 sports for the Tokyo Games is expected in the summer.Once the range of pricing is agreed by the 2020 organizing committee, it is subject to approval by the IOC Executive Board.

"Tokyo 2020 plans to ask for the IOC EB’s approval on ticket pricing at the July meeting," Takaya told ATR.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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