Quezi

Whistler Village undoubtedly will be crowded with spectators and participants during the 2010 Winter Olympics. Joe Schlabotnik photo. CC-BY.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee has set rigid restrictions on sales for the 2010 Winter Olympics, which will be held in and near Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, in February. Hoping to prevent problems with scalping and counterfeiting, VANOC is limiting ticket sales to one authorized dealer for each country, has set restrictions on ticket transfers and says it may deny entry to those who purchase tickets from unauthorized sources.

The authorized ticket seller for the United States residents is CoSport, which also is authorized to sell tickets to residents of Australia and several other countries. Canadians may purchase tickets directly from VANOC. Other authorized sellers for English-speaking countries include:

• New Zealand, Premier Events
• South Africa, Fli Afrika
• United Kingdom, Ireland: Sportsworld
• U.S. Virgin Islands: Cartan Global

As of this writing, CoSport is selling tickets only as part of “hospitality packages” that include access to CoSport’s hospitality center and, optionally, accommodations. It plans to start selling individual tickets in mid-May. Ticket sales are limited to 48 per person, and they may not be sold or given to anyone who does not have a pre-existing relationship with the original purchaser. CoSport reserves the right at any time to obtain a complete list of names of all the ticketholders. These rules will make it difficult if not impossible for ticket brokers or travel agents to legitimately resell tickets (although they could order tickets on their clients’ behalf), and customers who buy such tickets would take the risk that their tickets would be invalidated (although it is unclear how this provision will be enforced).

Sportsworld also has restrictions with the same apparent goal. Once a ticket purchase has been booked, for example, no name changes can be made. And ticket purchasers won’t be able to pick up their tickets until they arrive in Vancouver.

Tickets to individual events won’t be printed until about two months before the Olympics begin. Canadians who have ordered tickets in advance will receive them by certified couriers late in 2009.

Tickets not sold in advance through authorized agents will be sold at the events themselves, although many of the most popular events (such as figure skating) will almost certainly be sold out.

For those who purchase tickets in advance and are unable to attend at the last minute, VANOC says it is making arrangement so that the tickets can be sold back or donated to the organizing committee so that someone else can use them. The details have yet to be announced.

Tickets vary widely in price. Lowest-cost events will begin at $25 Canadian, and half of all tickets will be sold for under $100. The most expensive seats will be for the opening ceremonies (over $1,000) and figure skating (up to around $500).