The 2004 summer games may be over a year away, but the sprint to buy tickets is on. The Athens 2004 Organising Committee (ATHOC) has been accepting ticket applications since May 12 via Internet from people residing in the European Union and the European Economic Area. In Greece, written applications are also being submitted through sponsor Alpha Bank. The deadline for applications is June 12, 2003.

“Apply” is the key word, because there are no guarantees. By July 2003 all applications will be fed into a computer system, which will distribute the tickets. For events where demand exceeds availability, there will be a random computer lottery. An as-of-yet-unnamed independent consulting company will monitor the fairness of the procedure. Applicants will be notified about their results by September 2003 and receive tickets a few months before the August 11-29, 2004 games.

Three million tickets are available for sale. Another 2.3 million have already been reserved for sponsors, International Olympic Committee officials and others. ATHOC expects to make 183 million euros on ticket sales, or 9.3% of the total Olympic budget, according to newspaper Eleftherotypia .

How to apply
In Greece, ATHOC is providing a 63-page guide to buying tickets, including detailed timetables. Applicants must fill out the Greek form (only one per person) in either Greek or English and deliver it in person (not by mail) to any Alpha Bank branch. They can prepay in cash, by VISA credit card or through an Alpha Bank account. A publicity campaign is urging buyers to use plastic.

EU/EEA residents (not only citizens), including those living in Greece, may apply for tickets through ATHOC’s website . All required info is there, in Greek, English or French, though searching for details may take some time. To select tickets, buyers must set up an account (an easy process) and then fill their online shopping basket with tickets. Only one online application per person can be submitted and VISA credit cards are the only method of payment outside of Greece.

Those living outside the EU and EEA must contact their National Olympic Committees for ticket buying info. The good news for those who don’t manage to get tickets is that much of the Marathon and Cycling road routes are open to the public.

From single tickets to packages
Tickets range in price from 10 euros (for the Marathon finish) to 950 euros (for prime Opening Ceremony seats). Moreover, for some events, the number of tickets an individual can buy is limited. Besides separate tickets, ATHOC is also providing some 200 multi-ticket packages of the following kinds: Olympic Experience (a taste of the games/venues), Weekend, Olympic Complex (one-venue only), Olympic Sports Pass (all levels of one sport) and Day.

If money is no issue, there are also 3,500-71,000-euro premium event/seating packages. Athens 2004 Ticketing Manager Mary Manolopoulou notes that five such packages are available, ranging from the cheapest (16 tickets) to the most expensive (60 tickets). Interested parties should call ATHOC for more info.

Each application form allows for a maximum of 10 individual events and five multi-ticket packages. Applicants can submit an alternative choice for each, as long as it costs the same or less than their first choice. For individual events (not packages), if demand is higher than tickets available, applicants will be bumped down to cheaper tickets - unless they indicate they don’t want “cascading”. By contrast, the number of tickets won’t decrease; either applicants will get the number of tickets they apply for, or none.

The fine print
*Applicants cannot apply for tickets to events taking place at the same time.
*Applications can’t be cancelled.
*There are no discounts for children or seniors.
*Spectators who arrive by wheelchair must indicate so on their form. The Olympics transportation system and venues are supposed to cater to other mobility problems too. Those with special concerns should call ATHOC to go over details.
*If an applicant’s address changes, ATHOC must be contacted.
*Stolen or lost tickets won’t be replaced.
*Only tickets purchased on the same application form will have adjacent/nearby seating.
*If ATHOC changes the time/date of events, the original ticket is still valid.
*If an event is cancelled, ticket-holders are entitled to a refund, but must apply for it.
*Tickets will be provided a few months before the games at Alpha Bank branches of buyers’ choice (in Greece) and by courier (outside Greece).
*Re-selling or trading tickets is prohibited. Tickets can be given to family or friends, without having to attend events together. Buyers’ names won’t be written on tickets, but tickets will bear security features and a coded reference to the buyer.
*ATHOC will advise spectators on travel times to venues. The day of events, ticket-holders travel to and from venues for free on the public/Olympic transport system (except for inter-city football travel).
*In October 2003, any leftover tickets will go on sale on a first-come, first-serve basis through the ATHOC web site and Alpha Bank outlets.
* Paralympic Games (September 14-28, 2004) tickets will go on sale separately a year in advance.

For more information
ATHOC’s toll-free ticket hotline a) for local land lines: 800-11-20042, b) for all mobiles and international calls: +30-210-373-0000