Asia

Asian Winter Games offers free entry to skiing events

Tickets for next month’s Sapporo 2017 Asian Winter Games in Japan have gone on open sale for as little as ¥500 (£3.40/$4.20/€4.00).

Organisers are offering free entry to the Alpine skiing and speed skating events. In comparison, a day pass to see the men’s downhill at next month’s FIS Ski World Championships in St Moritz, Switzerland, costs £44.

The Asian Winter Games will take place between February 19-26, with Australian and New Zealand athletes competing for the first time. The most expensive tickets for the entire event are around £62 for VIP entry to the Closing Ceremony.

General admission for the Opening Ceremony at the Sapporo Dome, which will feature a performance by pop group Dreams Come True, will cost around £10, with tickets also available at £20, £27 and £55.

The most expensive tickets for the Games are for events taking place at the Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink, with entry to the figure skating and the Closing Ceremony costing between £10 and £62.

Alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboard giant slalom, snowboard slalom and men’s division II and III ice hockey will have free admission, along with speed skating.