Tokyo Games postponement presents quandary for ticket buyers

TOKYO (AP) — When it comes to Olympic tickets, the Latin expression “caveat emptor” often applies: “Let the buyer beware.”

The unprecedented postponement of the Tokyo Olympics has left buyers of millions of tickets in a quandary. Will the games happen next year? Will non-Japanese fans be allowed? Will there be any fans? How will health and travel restrictions be applied? Will there be a vaccine and quarantines?

Tokyo organisers and the International Olympic Committee say the games will open on July 23, 2021, and the competition schedule remains virtually unchanged. But they’ve offered few details, and specifics aren’t expected until the fall and into next year as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.

“We have some people saying there is no way Tokyo 2020 is happening, and other people are saying it’s absolutely going to happen and ‘I’m going to be there for every moment of it,’” said Ken Hanscom, the chief operating officer of the Los Angeles-based firm TicketManager.

Hanscom isn’t connected with Olympic ticketing, but his company manages big-event tickets for corporate clients. He’s also organised a popular Facebook page that’s a go-to for Tokyo ticket information.

Olympic ticketing is always confusing, a maze of interests including official ticket resellers, national Olympic committees and sports federations, sponsors and advertisers, and local organisers and the IOC.

Invariably at every Olympics, an event is listed as “sold out” although the venue is half-filled because some VIPs or hospitality guests haven’t shown up.

Four years ago in Rio de Janeiro, IOC member Patrick Hickey of Ireland was arrested for scalping tickets. He has maintained his innocence. Japan has passed an anti-scalping law specifically because of the games, though it has several loopholes.

The Chinese e-commerce, data and technology company Alibaba is taking over ticketing for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, and likely beyond. Alibaba owns Damai, one of China’s largest ticketing platforms, and is also an IOC sponsor.

Olympic tickets for residents of Japan were sold through the local organising committee. It says refunds for the postponement “will be carried out” no earlier than this fall. This seems straightforward.

It’s more complicated for non-Japan residents.

Those outside Japan purchase through so-called Authorised Ticket Resellers appointed by national Olympic committees. They can charge a 20% handling fee on tickets, and are allowed to package desirable tickets with premium hotel packages.

They also set the foreign currency exchange rates.

Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us @onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.