Sochi Winter Paralympics Tickets Go On Sale Amid Fears Of Empty Seats

Tickets for next year’s Winter Paralympics in Sochi "went on sale Friday," but Russia’s top Paralympic official "warned the competition could be marred by swathes of empty seats," according to R-SPORT. Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev "was on hand for the start of ticket sales at a small ceremony in Sochi, and vowed to be present for the Games in March." Most tickets are priced at between 350 and 450 rubles ($11 to $14) -- less than the cheapest tickets for February’s Winter Olympics -- with the most expensive opening ceremony tickets running to 5,000 rubles ($154). Russian Paralympic Committee head Mikhail Terentyev said, "At the moment there are big dangers regarding the filling of the stands with spectators. Big sports facilities have been built, a big park and so far the International Paralympic Committee regards with a certain caution the Sochi 2014 organizing committee’s plans to attract spectators" (R-SPORT, 9/27).