Vancouver Olympics organizers dismissed claims raised in a U.S. newspaper that ordinary Americans have trouble buying or affording event tickets. A recent Seattle Times series suggested the 2010 Winter Games is becoming a playground for the rich and well connected.
“Frankly, we’re not concerned at all about the article,” VANOC deputy CEO Dave Cobb told reporters today.
The American reporting suggested Games organizers hadn’t made enough U.S. tickets available, despite huge demand south of the border. It pointed out sponsors, media and VIPs get the “lion’s share” of tickets to the most hotly watched events.
Remaining tickets are often sold in prohibitively expensive packages.
The Seattle Times implied VANOC had failed to deliver on its promise to hold an open Olympics affordable to regular Joes.
“Welcome to the dark side of the Olympic flame,” it concluded. “The public will be a bit player in the made-for-TV drama unfolding in Vancouver and Whistler.”
Organizing committees go through a “very rigorous” process to decide how many tickets go to each country, Cobb said. By far, the U.S. got the largest allocation outside Canada, he added.
During the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, organizers made 18,000 tickets available to Canada, he said. VANOC has allocated over 90,000 to the U.S.
“So approximately five times as many tickets have been allocated to the Americans for our Games then was the case in 2002,” Cobb said.
VANOC lets National Olympic Committees charge a 20 per cent mark-up on tickets to cover their costs, Cobb said. Once the organizations have the tickets, they can sell them at their discretion.
That may include negotiations with resale companies such as Jet Set Sports, which often charge huge mark-ups on hotel and event packages.
Geoff Dembicki reports for the Tyee.
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mwatkins
2 years ago
"Would become a playground
"Would become a playground for the rich..."
Answer putting the situation inthe present tense where it belongs:
Hasn't it already?
Ramona777
2 years ago
Do The Math
Given the following quote from the story:
"During the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, organizers made 18,000 tickets available to Canada, he said. VANOC has allocated over 90,000 to the U.S."
The US population is 10 times Canada's so by rights, shouldn't 180,000 tickets be available to US citizens, 50 per cent more?
These Games are contrary to all of the Olympic ideals.
frances
2 years ago
I don't get it
Americans, or maybe that should be American media, are not afraid to call a spade a spade. Whereas here we seem to be still locked into some kind of feudal mindset, careful not to disturb the lords of the manor. Maybe it's time we had a revolution too, might do wonders for the country.
North of Hope
2 years ago
Len Deighton quote
I came across this quote from a book by Len Deighton, "If you dine with the rich, you wind up paying the bill." I believe he caught the spirit of the bill for the games.
Norman Farrell
2 years ago
We've always knew that
A recent Seattle Times series suggested the 2010 Winter Games is becoming a playground for the rich and well connected.
“Frankly, we’re not concerned at all about the article,” VANOC deputy CEO Dave Cobb told reporters today."
-------------
He could have gone on to say:
"After all, we knew it was that from the start. We've spent the money now so we don't need to hide the truth."
DPL
2 years ago
Vanoc's only concern is that
Vanoc's only concern is that Gordo keeps them all employed. Wonder where all the multitude of folks are coming from to watch the circus?