Ticket sales for the Rio Games are "lagging behind those of recent Olympics," as only about 79% of the 6.1 million tickets for the event had been sold as of Monday, according to Luciana Magalhaes of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. That is "well behind the final figures" for the '12 London and '08 Beijing Games, both of which "sold more than 95% of their seats." However, Rio’s percentage sales already have "beaten those of a number of past summer Olympics," including Athens ('04), Atlanta ('96), Barcelona ('92) and Seoul ('88), none of which "cracked the 80% mark." Int'l Society of Olympic Historians President David Wallechinsky "pegged spectacular ticket sales in Beijing and London to unique factors, including China’s massive population and England’s wealth, its proximity to the rest of Europe and its love for all types of sports." Magalhaes notes most tickets in any host country, typically around 75%, "are sold to locals." Rio organizers are "counting on last-minute demand from locals, as well as some regional and international buyers, to bolster ticket sales." Total revenue stands at $304M, "about 95% of the target." But some travel experts "doubt whether Rio can make up much more ground." Sao Paulo-based sport consulting firm Maquina do Esporte Dir Erich Beting said, "At this point it will be hard for Rio to beat London." London organizers "set a target to raise" $668M from ticket sales, and ultimately raised $880 million, "exceeding the target by 32%" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/3).
GET ON THE BUS: In London, Martyn Ziegler reports ROCOG will "bus in schoolchildren to fill empty seats in the venues, with about 1.5 million tickets for events at the Games still unsold." Tickets are "still available for many sports," including track and field. Tennis, swimming, triathlon and the finals of beach volleyball, volleyball, soccer and basketball -- "the most popular sports in Brazil -- are the only sellouts" (LONDON TIMES, 8/3).
