Here's your chance to experience the Paralympics

By Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published on May 01, 2009

Ticket sales open May 6

If you were one of thousands of people left out in the cold when 2010 Olympic tickets were snapped up last year, you may want to try your hand at the Paralympics.

On Wednesday, May 6, the Vancouver Organizing Committee will put the first block of tickets on sale to Canadians. And unlike the much-criticized lottery system that left many people without a single ticket to the Olympics, Vanoc is selling its Paralympic tickets on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We’re going on sale earlier than the majority of organizing committees, mostly because we’ve seen the demand and questions from Canadians who want to plan their experience,” said Caley Denton, Vanoc’s vice-president of ticketing and consumer marketing. “We’ve seen really strong public interest for the sport events we’ve had earlier this year.”

All totaled, Vanoc says it has 250,000 tickets available for 64 medal events at the Paralympic Games, which start March 12, 2010. The vast majority will go on sale online at vancouver2010.com Wednesday, with a small portion held back for venue space planning purposes, Denton said.

And unlike their pricier cousins, Paralympic tickets will be vastly more affordable. Denton said the highest price anyone will pay will be $175, for a top-grade entry to the Opening Ceremony at BC Place. More than 70 per cent of the competition tickets will sell for less than $20. Even a top-flight ticket to the gold medal sledge hockey event – where Canada is expected to defend its crown – will cost $50.

Read the rest of this good news at Vancouver Sun