More than 40 percent of Olympic tickets unsold
CTV.ca News Staff
ATHENS — Athens' Olympic Organizing Committee is coming under pressure to sell more tickets. More than forty per cent of all tickets still haven't been sold.
The International Olympic Committee has begun asking what's going on, but officials in Athens say there's nothing to worry about.
"We have two weeks of competition ahead of us and as I said, we will be breaking the 3 million mark," said Michalis Zacharatos of Athens' organizing committee.
Most of the tickets for premium events, like the track and field finals, have already been sold. But for elimination rounds and less popular sports, the tickets just aren't selling.
That means some of the best athletes in the world are finding themselves competing at near-empty venues.
But it's still good news for last minute fans trying to get their hands on tickets.
Canadian Olympic fan John Hong said he was expecting long lines for what is "supposed to be the biggest sporting event in the world, so it is surprising."
Possible reasons for low ticket sales include a fear of terrorism, a weak dollar and the fact that many Athenians are on holiday at this time of year. Most of them leave the city in search of a quieter country atmosphere.
Despite their confidence that the crowds will show up, Athens' Olympic Committee has launched a television campaign to try and boost sales.
I noticed it. Half of the stands are empty even in the sports that you would expect to draw a big crowd. The swimming stands have been pretty full, but the tennis, even the basketball, no one is there.
They say it's because of terrorism fears, but so far I have hardly heard of any threats on the Olympics. It's a once in a lifetime experience and Athens has been working so hard towards it for so long, I don't understand why the Greeks aren't interested in going to see the Games.
They said that the first couple days was a holiday in Greece....but after the holiday, I dont understand...why would they not want to support their country in this?
With this turnout...the committee is gonna think long and hard about bringing it back to Greece again.
I know that the Greeks are not into gymnastics at all...but it seems to me that they arent into anything....
How about supporting their own athletes? Isnt that cause enough to go?
I dont get it.....at all!
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
1st off, I'll say that I live in the USA, born and raised American, then I'll say that the A-HOLE countries...the USA and the UK, are at fault for keeping people away. From the 1st day the Greeks got the games, they've been ripping them and telling the world that "they aren't going to be ready" and the "terroism will be a huge threat, blah, blah, blah and the Greeks can't handle it, etc. etc. etc."
Ready? READY?? Ready means that on opening day, things are ready, where does it say that you have to be ready a year in advance? If you finsh preparations the DAY BEFORE, YOU ARE READY.
Terrorism? Greece is one of the safest places in the world, well liked people, well liked country, YES, the Greeks even get along with people like Arafat and Saddam...the only reason they would be attacked would be people out to get at the "Axis of A-Holes" (USA, UK and Israel). I mean a city like Baltimore has more murders in a week than the WHOLE COUNTRY of Greece has in 5 years!
Yes that's right, it's the media from the A-Holes countries fault, why couldn't they just keep their mouths shut and let the CAPABLE Greeks prepare for THEIR games the way THEY wanted to.
PS...I've lived in Greece, so I'm not talking without some points of reference.
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."— George Bush Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004
schmiggens said this in post #2 : I noticed it. Half of the stands are empty even in the sports that you would expect to draw a big crowd. The swimming stands have been pretty full, but the tennis, even the basketball, no one is there.
They say it's because of terrorism fears, but so far I have hardly heard of any threats on the Olympics. It's a once in a lifetime experience and Athens has been working so hard towards it for so long, I don't understand why the Greeks aren't interested in going to see the Games.
Maybe most people just simply don't care about the olympics anymore.
Basketball? We have the NBA to watch every year. Forget these wank teams from countries where basketball isn't anything.
There isn't going to be any terrorism at the olympics. That's silly. Unless of course the terrorists want every participating country pissed off, which they don't.
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."— George Bush Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004
08-17-2004 04:44 AM
