Delhi 2010 organisers expect sell-out for opening ceremony

October 1, 2010

Organisers of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games have said they expect the opening ceremony to be a 60,000 sell-out, despite tickets costing up to US$1,000 each.

Chairman of the Games’ organising committee, Suresh Kalmadi, has said all tickets priced at 1,000 rupees (US$22) and 5,000 rupees (US$110) are sold-out, and he was predicting that all tickets costing 25,000 rupees (US$555) would be gone by the end of yesterday.

The opening ceremony will take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on 3 October and will showcase 5,000 years of Indian culture. It will include dance from across the country as well as a giant helium balloon which will float above the stadium.

Kalmadi also insisted the Games would be a success, despite widespread criticism its preparations. He said he believed the event would act as a springboard for an Indian Olympic Games bid on the not too distant future.