Postponement of Tokyo Olympics Creates Problem for Ticket Buyers
2020-08-24
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1The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics has created a big problem for buyers of millions of tickets to the 2020 summer games.
2The games were delayed because of travel restrictions and coronavirus public safety measures.
3But many questions remain for people who planned to go.
4Tokyo organizers and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) say the games will open on July 23, 2021.
5The competition schedule remains largely unchanged.
6More information is not expected until later this year and early next year as officials react to the developments in the COVID-19 health crisis.
7Olympics events are often listed as "sold out."
8But only half of the seats are filled because some people, who are given tickets or special passes, do not show up.
9Four years ago, in Rio de Janeiro, IOC member Patrick Hickey of Ireland was arrested for scalping tickets.
10Scalping takes place when a person buys tickets to an event and tries to resell them at higher prices.
11Hickey claims he is innocent.
12Japan has passed an anti-scalping law because of the Tokyo Olympics, although the law has several loopholes.
13Olympic tickets for residents of Japan were sold through the local organizing committee.
14The committee says refunds for the postponement "will be carried out" no earlier than this autumn.
15However, refunds are more complex for foreign buyers.
16That is because people outside of Japan buy tickets through Authorized Ticket Resellers appointed by national Olympic committees.
17These groups can add a 20 percent fee on tickets.
18They can combine desirable tickets with package deals at high-end hotels.
19They also set the foreign currency exchange rates.
20In Brazil four years ago, CoSport, the ticket reseller for the United States, used a currency exchange rate that raised ticket prices.
21Authorized ticket resellers have different conditions for returning money for unused tickets.
22Christopher Chase is a lawyer based in New York.
23He looked at the "Terms and Conditions" set out by Tokyo organizers about ticket use.
24He said those terms appeared to cover the coronavirus pandemic.
25But he noted that local organizers had already promised to refund buyers for the postponement, as have many official resellers.
26The Associated Press talked to many ticket buyers about their plans through email.
27Andrew Pham is a financial trader in Spokane, Washington.
28He has spent $2,500 on tickets and still plans to go to Tokyo next year.
29"I would say at this point, no one should be buying or holding any tickets that they couldn't afford to lose," he said.
30Pham said he thinks that CoSport will be unlikely to return money if the Olympics are canceled.
31Sharon delPilar works as a stage manager in Las Vegas.
32She has spent $800 on tickets and looks forward to going to the Olympics.
33"I'm willing to run the risk...I trust all efforts will be made to work things out," she said.
34Thomas Armbrustmacher of Michigan said he has spent almost $1,000 on tickets and is also taking a chance.
35"I am willing to take the risk that I will not get a ticket refund," he wrote.
36Brandon Nagata works for the state of Hawaii in Honolulu.
37He said he spent about $3,400 on tickets and had returned some of them for a refund, although he had to pay a service fee.
38He still plans to attend.
39Tokyo organizers say at least 70 percent of the 7.8 million tickets were saved for buyers in Japan.
40About 4.5 million tickets have been sold to Japanese residents.
41Ticket sales are expected to be worth at least $800 million to local organizers.
42I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics has created a big problem for buyers of millions of tickets to the 2020 summer games. 2The games were delayed because of travel restrictions and coronavirus public safety measures. But many questions remain for people who planned to go. 3Tokyo organizers and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) say the games will open on July 23, 2021. The competition schedule remains largely unchanged. More information is not expected until later this year and early next year as officials react to the developments in the COVID-19 health crisis. 4Olympic tickets 5Olympics events are often listed as "sold out." But only half of the seats are filled because some people, who are given tickets or special passes, do not show up. 6Four years ago, in Rio de Janeiro, IOC member Patrick Hickey of Ireland was arrested for scalping tickets. Scalping takes place when a person buys tickets to an event and tries to resell them at higher prices. Hickey claims he is innocent. 7Japan has passed an anti-scalping law because of the Tokyo Olympics, although the law has several loopholes. 8Olympic tickets for residents of Japan were sold through the local organizing committee. The committee says refunds for the postponement "will be carried out" no earlier than this autumn. 9However, refunds are more complex for foreign buyers. That is because people outside of Japan buy tickets through Authorized Ticket Resellers appointed by national Olympic committees. These groups can add a 20 percent fee on tickets. They can combine desirable tickets with package deals at high-end hotels. They also set the foreign currency exchange rates. 10In Brazil four years ago, CoSport, the ticket reseller for the United States, used a currency exchange rate that raised ticket prices. 11Authorized ticket resellers have different conditions for returning money for unused tickets. Christopher Chase is a lawyer based in New York. He looked at the "Terms and Conditions" set out by Tokyo organizers about ticket use. He said those terms appeared to cover the coronavirus pandemic. But he noted that local organizers had already promised to refund buyers for the postponement, as have many official resellers. 12The Associated Press talked to many ticket buyers about their plans through email. 13Andrew Pham is a financial trader in Spokane, Washington. He has spent $2,500 on tickets and still plans to go to Tokyo next year. 14"I would say at this point, no one should be buying or holding any tickets that they couldn't afford to lose," he said. 15Pham said he thinks that CoSport will be unlikely to return money if the Olympics are canceled. 16Sharon delPilar works as a stage manager in Las Vegas. She has spent $800 on tickets and looks forward to going to the Olympics. 17"I'm willing to run the risk...I trust all efforts will be made to work things out," she said. 18Thomas Armbrustmacher of Michigan said he has spent almost $1,000 on tickets and is also taking a chance. "I am willing to take the risk that I will not get a ticket refund," he wrote. 19Brandon Nagata works for the state of Hawaii in Honolulu. He said he spent about $3,400 on tickets and had returned some of them for a refund, although he had to pay a service fee. He still plans to attend. 20Tokyo organizers say at least 70 percent of the 7.8 million tickets were saved for buyers in Japan. About 4.5 million tickets have been sold to Japanese residents. Ticket sales are expected to be worth at least $800 million to local organizers. 21I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 22Stephen Wade reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 23________________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25ticket - n. a piece of pare that gives the holder a right to enter a place or take part in an event 26schedule - n. a plan for when things will be done and what times they will take place 27loophole - n. something in a law that makes it possible for some people to legally avoid its requirements 28resident - n. a person who lives somewhere permanently or for a long time 29refund -n. an amount of money that is given back to someone who has returned a product, paid too much, etc. 30authorized - adj. officially permitted to sell a product or service 31fee - n. a payment made to a person, business or group in exchange for advice or services 32package - n. a group of related things sold together for a single price 33currency - n. the money that a country uses: a specific kind of money 34pandemic - n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world 35afford - v. to be able to pay for (something) 36stage manager - n. a person who supervises the physical aspects of a stage production, assists the director during rehearsals, and is in charge of the stage during a performance 37We want to hear from you. 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