The high cost of tickets for Olympic medal sessions in athletics, track cycling and swimming "has been criticised by the London Assembly," according to SKY NEWS. In a report called The Price Of Gold, the Assembly's economy committee said that "there are lessons to be learned for future sporting events in the capital." But although London 2012 kept its promise to spread tickets evenly across its five price categories, the amounts charged "varied between sessions and, for a large number, were skewed towards the high end." The committee said that the average ticket price for Olympic athletics medal sessions was £231.88 ($353.78), with a fifth of tickets costing more than £400 ($610). Committee Chair Andrew Dismore said, "For many ordinary people, the lack of available affordable tickets for certain sessions meant there was little chance of them being in the crowd to see their sporting heroes win gold." The committee accepted the principle of charging more for medal sessions "but suggested there should be a minimum number of affordable tickets available at future events" (SKY NEWS, 4/24).
