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Tokyo Olympic tickets: Be prepared to be disappointed

35 Comments
By STEPHEN WADE

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35 Comments
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@redelmotalking

One of my direct family members is one of the higher ups at the JOC and he couldn't get us tickets. Only the very, very high up oyaji can pull like that here.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Or, just go hang out outside the place drinking

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Stop demonizing Tokyo Olympics.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

80 to 90 percent of ordinary people didn't get a ticket? And sponsors (Japan inc) and IOC get them handed to them for free, like confetti? What a joke!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

...hundreds of empty seats that are typically set aside for International Olympic Committee officials, corporate sponsors, and local dignitaries. Often they don't show up while angry fans line up outside without tickets.

Simple solution to this messed up situation. Don't give these ungrateful VIPs so many tickets.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Buyers outside Japan must get tickets from Authorized Ticket Resellers, companies appointed by national Olympic committees. They were authorized to begin sales on Thursday.

nice little racket they got going on there

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Buyers outside Japan must get tickets from Authorized Ticket Resellers, companies appointed by national Olympic committees. They were authorized to begin sales on Thursday.

No the ticket window has already opened and closed according to the Co-Sport website. I never even got an email advising me of this so although I had registered an account with them. I will be in Tokyo for the Olympics, looks like I might not get in to see any events.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Aren't the games going to be televised?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I got all my tickets, what's everyone whining about?

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Got tickets to women's and men's soccer finals. And one track and field event.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Lots of bitterness here toward the Olympics in general. And a lot of it is understandable - the politics and economics and corruption around the event are a nightmare. Commercialization - yes. Crowds - yes. Understood 100%. However, it's still a chance to see the most elite athletes in the world performing. It's still a chance to see the very moment that people have been training every day of their lives for years and years and years to get to. It's still a chance to see unparalleled athleticism, grace, and endurance paired with some of the heaviest performance-based pressure in the world. I'm thrilled to be able to see that.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Applied: 11 events, 2 tickets each

Won: 1 event, 2 tickets

Hmm ...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I scored a pair of tickets for two different events! Very excited about that. Didn't get the Opening Ceremony like I was hoping for, but I've no right to complain seeing as how many others didn't get any.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Better off investing in a very large TV along with some cooling cartons of beer and chu-hi!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

May be ticket sales in other countries were lower because the people were more cynical/less gullible to the hype and commercialism of the games.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Bet you'll have no trouble getting tickets for women's softball... LOL

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Of course it's only for the rich corporate elite.

When hasn't it been?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I have never understood the appeal of spectator sports, though for a few minutes I'll watch an important (?) tennis match on the tele...I wouldn't travel into Tokyo for the scam that is the Olympics if I were paid to do so! Madness, media-hyped madness!

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Rich people and all Abe's buddies got all the tickets

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Wow I knew this was going to be a shambles, but I didn't expect the wheels to start falling off so soon.

Just imagine what could have been done with the trillions p!ssed away on this white elephant.

Pensions, child care, investment into education - nah, lets have two weeks of running about and jumping in unbearable heat. Here's your brown envelope, Mr. Official.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

"This is probably going to be the most popular Olympics, and possibly one of the most popular events of all time," 

Hmm, I think he has popular confused with memorable. It will be memorable for the largest amount of straight up lies told to the IWC to obtain the games. It will be memorable for having events scattered all over the country, despite claiming to be able to hold all the events in Tokyo. It will be memorable for spectators scrambling to find accommodation. It will be memorable for insufficient seating and amenities at venues. It will be memorable for the huge clustertruck that will result in transportation to and from venues for both spectators and athletes. And, it will be memorable for the largest amount of athletes and spectators to suffer from heatstroke and possibly die in the mid-summer's heat and humidity. It will be a very memorable event indeed!

6 ( +8 / -2 )

I've been prepared to be disappointed since the beginning of this fiasco which is actually going to take place in Tokyo in July and August. Still no indication they're going to move it back to October.

Is Yuuma signifying peace or victory here?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

All 9 of my immediate family (including myself) went in for several events for 4 tickets each and all of us were rejected for every event.

Damn.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Why is there always a lottery system in Japan??

I remember my ex gf told me to sign in for a lottery for a concert for her and her friends.

Why ??

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Take away the tickets given to the Olympic vilage, i.e. officials, executives, sponsors, advertisers, media, national olympic committees, VIPs, local dignitaries, athletes, and family members, and there's not much left for anyone one else. When these people are not being wined and dined, or on duty, they might attend a few events, or more likely try and sell their tickets. Has been that way for years. And unlikely to change. Just don't get caught.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

A friend of mine, her husband, and their kids, all got shot down despite all of them having applied for several events. They seemed down, but I told them to save the hundreds of thousands of yen and take a trip abroad and experience some REAL culture, and that they ultimately have the best seat of the house in front of their TVs (unless there's not a Japanese athlete in the event, or if they're knocked out).

5 ( +7 / -2 )

"This is probably going to be the most popular Olympics, and possibly one of the most popular events of all time," Ken Hanscom, 

Oh, blah, blah, blah! It’s because the stadiums are much smaller and accommodate far fewer spectators. The stadiums in Rio held 60,000+ people. The stadiums in Tokyo hold half of that. The regional stadiums for soccer, hockey, tennis, etc. are even smaller.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Mmm. Expected as much, Olympic ‘backhander’ Committee sends tix to the highest bidders I’m sure. Actually I got x 2 tix for a minor event, but so disappointing to:

a) use the travesty of a website that is trying to host this and failing

b) hear that so many residents won’t get a shout

1 ( +2 / -1 )

would love to get my hands on some tickets but it's seems that i'm just dreaming

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Yes, prepare to be disappointed.. Too many people for few tickets.. What's the point anyway? You'll feel down if you spend hours and don't get a ticket!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I'll only be disappointed if I can't stay out of Tokyo for the entire duration of the games!

14 ( +15 / -1 )

SaikoPhysco: The only difference is, those concerts are sold out and ATTENDED. All of these events, and I mean ALL of them, will have hundreds of seats for share holders and companies pre-purchased and many of which will remain empty. You see it in every sporting event held here: people having trouble getting tickets in many cases and then cameras panning over empty seats.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

That is how I approach every concert or public event I go to in Japan. Preparing myself to be disappointed. This way... there is only upside... well, most of the time.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

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