In Chile continues the controversy over tickets for the Pan American Games

teleSUR English

Authorities spoke to the press and took action, just a few days before the end of the competitions, as they have expressed their discomfort due to empty seats in the most popular sports, despite the very high demand for tickets, while describing the audience levels on television and streaming platforms as a success. teleSUR

Transcript

00:00 In Chile, the controversy over tickets for the Pan American Games continues.

00:03 They have always been practically sold out, but the sports venues are not full.

00:08 The authorities spoke to the press and took measures a few days before to end of the competitions.

00:14 Our correspondent, Paula Dracny, with more.

00:21 Athletics is finally filling those empty seats that became a silence controversy for the

00:25 Chilean press.

00:26 Tickets are always sold out for these Pan American Games, but sports venues with a large

00:31 number of people.

00:32 Why?

00:33 Empty seats have been a recurring issue.

00:37 I would like to give some figures.

00:39 For example, in yesterday's Athletics, 71% of the people who bought tickets came to the

00:47 stadium.

00:49 If we have someone who bought tickets, we cannot sell that ticket again, and obviously,

00:58 we cannot force them to come.

01:00 The ticket is sold and for some reason, 30% of what was sold did not come.

01:07 But there is more.

01:08 The journalists insist on the issue even though the press conference of these highest authorities

01:13 of Santiago 2023 were scheduled to talk about the closing ceremony.

01:18 It does not seem logical that thousands of people buy tickets and then do not attend

01:23 to the competitions.

01:25 We have another problem with the complimentary tickets.

01:28 These are the commitments we have with the company or with the institutions that there

01:32 are events in which 30% of the tickets are delivered to them, and we, for security reasons,

01:37 cannot sell more than the capacity we have in spite of having this data.

01:40 It is regrettable and we are really surprised.

01:45 Indeed, companies have taken these Pan-American Games by storm, and also no figures were given

01:51 on the number of complimentary tickets given to the private sector.

01:55 The fact is that although the Games are about to end, measures have already been taken.

02:02 We sent a letter to all those companies to which we give complimentary tickets, asking

02:06 them to please let us know when they are not coming, so that we can put tickets on sale

02:10 at the last minute.

02:11 We have been doing so, and the tickets are sold out.

02:16 For the first time also, the surroundings of the National Stadium were full of people.

02:21 4,500 tickets were given to children from rural high schools who were overflowing with

02:26 joy.

02:27 And also to the municipalities that bring senior citizens.

02:33 Both social groups make up what has been called "gratuity", and according to the authorities,

02:39 they attend over 80% of where tickets are given away for free.

02:47 Mainicles call on those who do not use the tickets to return them.

02:52 But this paper is spaced at the ticket windows, while tickets are still sold out in a controversy

02:57 that is not entirely clear, and until today, kept the spot venues more empty than full,

03:03 and with no availability for people to buy a spot.

03:08 And they did not give you complimentary tickets?

03:11 It is sold out.

03:12 No, because there aren't any.

03:15 Says the lady.

03:16 Everything is sold out.

03:17 Everything is sold out.

03:18 The tickets are sold out.

03:21 Complementary tickets too.

03:23 And which sport did you want to watch?

03:25 Athletics.

03:26 Today we came to watch basketball, and on Saturday we plan to come to watch athletics,

03:31 the final, but it will be impossible.

03:34 Tickets are sold out.

03:37 The closing ceremony is also sold out, which promises a high-level show with Prince Royce

03:43 among the guests.

03:44 The only alternative seems to be "think about the coming Parapan-American Games".

03:50 Let them be enthusiastic.

03:52 Let them come.

03:53 Let them come to support these athletes, who with great courage and an impressive spirit

03:57 of self-improvement, compete and put on a great show.

04:03 And that the begging days after the controversial telephone show that raises money for medical

04:08 care for people with disabilities, and in which many companies, questioned for more

04:13 social and environmental responsibility, make donations.

04:19 Paola Dracnik and Vladimir Cortes, Telesur, Chile.

04:24 That story we've come to the end of this news brief, but before saying goodbye, we want

04:28 to thank our Caribbean audience, especially the audience of the Caribbean.

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