The #FillTheSeats campaign initiated last week ahead of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games has been expanded, the International Paralympic Committee and the local organising committee have confirmed.
Launched by former London 2012 Games marketing director Greg Nugent, the #FillTheSeats campaign originally aimed to raise $15,000 (£11,450/€13,440) to send 500 youngsters to the Games.
However, after raising more than $20,000 in just one week, the IPC and Rio 2016 have backed plans for the campaign to stay open and be extended so that more tickets can be donated to local Brazilians as a gift from around the world.
The IPC and Rio 2016 have now confirmed that up to 10,000 tickets can be purchased by the campaign at a price of $30 each to include transport, food and watching the sport. All funds are being donated to the Paralympic movement’s global governing body and the Agitos Foundation.
The money raised will pay for Brazilian children and people with an impairment to attend the Paralympics, which will begin on September 7.
The campaign has received the backing of music band Coldplay and was introduced after worrying ticket sales figures for the Games were disclosed by the organisers.
However, since revealing that only 12 per cent of tickets had been sold for the event earlier this month, there has been a surge in interest following the conclusion of the Olympic Games.
Yesterday (Monday), total sales surpassed the one million mark, with about 2.5 million available.
Rio 2016 ticket director Donovan Ferreti said: “There have been queues at our ticket offices and you can feel the excitement building around the city. There are still many tickets left to see these fantastic and inspiring athletes, and the best way to do so is through the Rio 2016 ticket portal.”
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