Rio Organizing Committee President Carlos Nuzman on Thursday said that more than 90% of tickets for the Rio Games "will be sold even though less than half have been snapped up with five months to go," according to Matt Dickinson of the LONDON TIMES. The sale of tickets "has become a political issue" because Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes "had initially promised to buy 1.2 million of the 6.6 million available and distribute them to local children and their guardians." However, he "has been forced to backtrack and will now invest in Paralympic tickets, of which about" 85% are yet to be sold. Nuzman said that he "expected the venues to be close to capacity despite the mayor's change of plan and a policy of not giving any Olympic tickets away, to politicians or schoolchildren." Nuzman: "In Brazil, spectators always buy at the last minute. We saw that at the World Cup. We are about to reach out to more people." Nuzman said that "the arrival of the torch relay in Brazil in May would push the profile among local people while there are plans to set up a number of box offices around Rio, helping those who might otherwise struggle to get on the Internet." Around 47% of tickets "have been sold" (LONDON TIMES, 3/4).
STAYING UPBEAT: In London, Owen Gibson noted there are "fears over the Zika virus, the readiness of some venues, pollution in the bay that will host the sailing, transport issues and the impact of cutbacks." In addition, there is concern over the "impact of budget reductions that have meant capacities being lowered at some venues and a scaling back of ceremonies and the volunteer programme." However, an "upbeat" Nuzman "insisted that the only budget cuts had been to the 'excess.'" Nuzman: "We are not changing anything about the field of play, we are doing everything for the athletes, nothing has been cut. We have not used any public resources. I think we are the single organizing committee that can say that. That is a victory, especially in the moment we are living in our country -- we are proud of this" (GUARDIAN, 3/3).
PUBLICITY PUSH: REUTERS' Alan Baldwin wrote with six months to go until the start of the Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games, the first in Latin America, organizers "are hoping a major publicity push will ease concerns about the slow pace of ticket sales."
Monday "marks the milestone but it comes amid fears that an expected record global cumulative television audience of more than four billion will see empty seats at venues when the event starts on Sept. 7 in Rio's Maracana stadium."
Rio 2016 organizers disclosed last month that just 10% of the three million Paralympic tickets "had been sold so far in Brazil."
Fewer than half the tickets for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics have also been sold "with about five months to go."
Int'l Paralympic Committee President Philip Craven said, "It’s true that ticket sales, if you compare them with how they went in London (2012) for both the Olympics and Paralympics, are way behind. But I think you really do have to look at the different culture of how Brazilians and the people in Rio look to main events. They don’t look to buying their tickets one year out as happened in London."
London 2012 "sold a record 2.76 million Paralympic tickets, with a global cumulative television audience of 3.8 billion." Brazil "has been struggling with political turmoil and corruption scandals, an economic downturn and the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which have all hampered preparations for the Games awarded to Rio in 2009."
Craven "was confident, however, that the Paralympics would build on the success of London, with more broadcasters signed up than ever before and Brazilian athletes among the top contenders" (REUTERS, 3/6).
PROTECTION PACKAGE: REUTERS' Alexander Smith wrote "obsessive hand washing, mouthwashes, downing cola after races and popping garlic tablets are just some of the precautions Britain's Olympic sailing team will be taking for the Games in Rio."
With the polluted waters of Guanabara Bay a concern and the Zika virus also a worry, the athletes "are taking no chances as they seek to improve on Britain's 2012 home tally of five medals and regain the advantage they lost to Australia."
British sailor Giles Scott said that "the focus is on getting as much time on the water as possible in Rio to help conquer the vagaries of complex tides, flukey winds and floating garbage." Scott:
"(It's) really simple stuff ... like bathroom hygiene but all the time. We get that nailed and then we can focus in on the sailing." Windsurfer Bryony Shaw said that avoiding the debris which can be found floating below the surface in parts of the sailing zone in the bay "could be the difference between winning medals or not" (REUTERS, 3/5).
