Ticket price cap set for 2020 Tokyo Olympics

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Eyebrows have been raised in Japan over preliminary ticket prices for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

During a ticket sales strategy meeting on Tuesday, the organizing committee set a ¥288,000-Japanese-yen (about 2,600 US dollars) cap on entry prices for the games’ opening ceremony, similar to that of the 2012 London Games.

Tokyo Olympics mascot. /VCG Photo

The proposed ceiling for the Paralympic Games opening ceremony is ¥144,100 yen, roughly double that of London and more than three times of Rio de Janeiro edition in 2016.

Kyodo News said the rates are meant to increase the value of the multisport event for athletes with disabilities.

An Olympics venue under construction in Tokyo. /VCG Photo‍

At the same time, tickets for Olympic events are said to start at 2,000 yen, with Paralympic events starting at 1,000 yen. The most expensive events will be 108,000 yen, for popular track and field events, and 6,500 yen for Paralympics track and field and swimming.

While organizers are hoping to offer affordable tickets for elementary school students, significantly higher-priced tickets targeted at wealthy groups will also be made available.

Screenshot from Facebook comments

On Facebook, Japanese have been complaining about the pricey tickets.

User @Satoshi Tokairin commented, “The unit isn't won, is it? But it's too expensive.”

And user @Masami Shimamura replied, “I think it's good for Zimbabwe dollar.”

User @Noboru Higashikata questioned, “Who is going to buy? ”

Ant user @ Hideo Abe said “Don’t promote it on TV! Reduce time for the Olympics!”

The organizing committee is expected to secure final ticket price approval at the International Olympic Committee board of directors meeting in July, with sales expected to start next year in the summer.