Tickets for the '16 Rio Games "went on sale in Brazil" yesterday, with top prices "comparable to those at the London Games and more than half" costing $22 (all figures U.S.) or less, according to Saad & Downie of REUTERS. The "most affordable of the 7.5 million tickets" are $12.65 and all purchases "can be paid for in up to five installments." The "most expensive tickets" in Rio -- for the track & field, basketball, beach volleyball and volleyball finals -- are priced at $379.47, "far above Brazil's minimum monthly wage" of $249.19. Tickets for the "popular opening ceremony will cost up to" $1,454.64 (REUTERS, 3/31). The AFP's Chris Wright reported fans yesterday "were asked to choose based on sport, game day and event site, give their financial details and apply online." One "missing element was tickets for football matches due to be held in Sao Paulo amid a dispute" with Brazilian soccer club Corinthians. The soccer event is the "only sport to host action outside Rio owing to the amount of matches." Seventy percent -- or 5.2 million -- tickets "have been earmarked for Brazilian residents" (AFP, 3/31).
