- Title: Ticket holders in Tokyo anxiously await word on Olympics
- Date: 24th March 2020
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 23, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO RESIDENT AND TOKYO 2020 TICKET HOLDER, KOKORO YAMADA, WHO HAS TWO CATEGORY A TICKETS FOR THE OLYMPICS CLOSING CEREMONY, SAYING: "As of now, I have read the (tickets) terms and agreements many times but the wording is ambiguous. However, rumours have been flying that postponement is the best option. If postponement happens it means they are still going through with the Olympics and I am fine with that. But cancellation, because it was very expensive, worries me."
- Embargoed: 7th April 2020 04:48
- Keywords: Japan Olympics Tokyo 2020 coronavirus health postponement refunds tickets
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Olympics,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA003C6ESYMF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Holders of tickets for the Tokyo Olympics face an anxious wait as the future of the Games hangs in the balance, following media reports they might not get a refund in case of a postponement or cancellation.
Tokyo 2020 haven't confirmed how many tickets have been sold but in the bidding process, organisers said over seven million seats would be available. All domestic tickets for the Olympics have been sold, according to organisers.
In the most recent Games budget from December 2019, organizers said $800 million had been raised through ticket sales.
Now, with the International Olympic Committee and Tokyo organizers saying postponement is being considered in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, ticket holders are worried about what this means for them.
Last week, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported tickets might not be refundable, citing Olympic organizers and contractual details connected to the tickets.
When previously contacted about ticket refunds, Tokyo 2020 organisers said they were monitoring the situation.
"The terms and conditions do not state that 'tickets cannot be refunded', so the article is not accurate," Tokyo 2020 organisers said.
The IOC have given themselves a deadline of four weeks to decide on the fate of the Tokyo 2020 Games, although the torch relay is scheduled to begin on Thursday (March 26).
(Production: Jack Tarrant, Sarah Aoyagi) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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