Opening ceremony to be affordable
21 May 1998The New South Wales Government says it plans to make the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics much more affordable for average citizens than the Atlanta Olympics.
Olympics Minister Michael Knight says if Atlanta pricing was used for the Sydney Games, the most expensive ticket for the opening ceremony would be $1,090 and the cheapest $364. But Mr Knight says he plans to make the tickets substantially less expensive, and the rich will foot the bill. "I'm not concerned at how dear it is at the upper end of the market," he said. "I'm concerned that the average Australian won't be able to afford $364. We have to get that price down and if the only way to do that is to increase the price for those that can afford over $1,000 then that's what we ought to do."
Mr Knight also says the Olympic organisers plan to have tickets to many of events priced lower than $50 so low-income families can afford to see some of the 2000 Games.
