More than five million tickets will be available for over 400 events involving 34 sports. It is good to see that spectators will pay as little as 30 yuan (US$4), rising to a top rate of 800 yuan for finals. The aim is to ensure that access to the games is affordable and that contests are well attended.
Online sales will be made through an official platform, with offline purchases also possible. The introduction of real-name registration for tickets is welcome to help combat the scourge of ticket scalping. Transfers will be possible, but only if made in advance.
Authorities must deliver on the promise to carefully monitor the process. Spectators are well advised to only buy tickets from official channels. Fans should be vigilant so they do not fall prey to scams.
The event will be a big draw for visitors. More than 100,000 visitors are expected, from the mainland and overseas. Concerns have been raised within the tourism sector about a lack of tickets available for tour groups, with individuals limited to six per event, making the creation of packages more difficult.
