Mar. 2, 2000
Are tickets for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake going to be too expensive?
An Eyewitness News analysis reveals, prices for the most popular events have skyrocketed compared to past Winter Olympic Games.
News Specialist John Daley has details.
You'll be amazed at how much ticket prices have gone up just in the past two decades.
And apparently that's the way the leaders of the Olympic movement want it.
"Swifter...higher...stronger."
That's the Olympic motto.
But when it comes to tickets, perhaps it should be: "Pricey, pricier and priciest."
Ticket prices for the most coveted seats have soared.
A seat at the Opening Ceremonies is often the most difficult to get, and since 1980 those prices have gone through the roof.
Most Expensive Seats/Opening Ceremonies
- Lake Placid 1980 $45]
- Calgary 1988 $59
- Nagano 1998 $278
- Salt Lake 2002 $885
When asked if Olympic tickets for the top events are simply too expensive, visiting top International Olympic Committee leaders say "No."
Marc Hodler/IOC Member: "THERE ARE ALWAYS MORE DEMANDS FOR CEREMONIES THAN THERE ARE SEATS."
Olympic leaders are quick to point out that there will be many inexpensive tickets, that 50% of all tickets are priced less than $60.
Mitt Romney/SLOC President: "PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY VERY HIGH PRICES IF THEY HAVE MEANS, ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF TICKETS FOR LOW PRICES."
But good seats at the most popular events--the opening and closing ceremonies--figure skating and hockey finals, will cost hundreds.
And many seats never go on sale to the general public.
Still--IOC member and former gold medalist Jean-Claude Killy says the Olympic Games today are perhaps less elitist than the past.
Jean-Claude Killy/IOC Member: "BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY, EVERYWHERE, YOU CAN WATCH THE GAMES FOR FREE ON TELEVISION."
According to one source 75 to 80 percent of seats for the opening ceremonies are reserved for the "Olympic family"-- those from the IOC, international sports officials and sponsors.
