Asia

PyeongChang 2018 ticket lottery opens

A lottery for tickets to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games has opened exactly a year before the event begins in South Korea.

The head of the organising committee said the lottery’s opening is “a call to action for [the public] to start planning and to join in with the excitement”.

The PyeongChang Organising Committee of the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) said it “plans to ignite the same passion and excitement that was enjoyed three decades ago and achieve their vision for the Games – to open up a new horizon in Korea and Asia by connecting the great passion of athletes and spectators live in PyeongChang”.

“We feel our ticketing slogan of ‘Get your tickets and share the passion’ is a clear way to encourage people to join us in PyeongChang in a year’s time,” said POCOG president Hee-beom Lee.

“It is a call to action for them to start planning and to join in with the excitement and wonderful memories that will be created.

“We want everyone to have the opportunity to be part of the first Olympic Winter Games in the Republic of Korea and for them to come and support our national athletes and watch the best Olympic winter athletes from around the world. It will be a momentous occasion and something we don’t want you to miss out on.”

Organisers said last month they hope to raise $150m (£120m/€140m) by selling 1.17 million tickets. South Korea’s national Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism expects the total cost of the Pyeongchang Olympics to exceed $10bn.

For the PyeongChang 2018 opening ceremony, the best seats will go for $1,285 each. For the closing ceremony, the most expensive seats will cost $810 each.

Short track, figure skating and speed skating tickets will start at $130. Tickets for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton will begin at $18.

All sports tickets and ceremony tickets will be available through the lottery between today and April 23. The lottery results will be announced on May 8, with those successful given a week to buy the tickets they have been allocated. Olympic partner Visa will be the only accepted method of payment in Korea.

Organisers said: “No matter when you submit your request during this initial period, you have the same chance of getting tickets as other applicants, so get planning and do not let this opportunity pass you by.”