WATCH ABOVE: Steven Clarke bought tickets for the medal round of a Pan Am/Parapan Am Games event, but he’ll now have to settle for the preliminary rounds after his tickets were switched unexpectedly. Peter Kim reports.
TORONTO – Steven Clarke bought his tickets for a Pan Am/Parapan Am Games synchronized diving event in December. An early evangelist of the Games some say lack the hype and profile of larger events, Clarke spread the word and tried to convince friends they would have a memorable experience.
“I was trying to spread the word and doing a good job and then it falls in my face,” said Clarke.
“My friends are laughing at me now because they’re like, ‘Well, that’s because nobody cares.’ And it just kind of proves the point.”
READ MORE: Pan Am Games still on track despite recent ticket troubles, organizers say
On June 3, Clarke received an emailing informing him that his tickets to the medal round finals were now downgraded to the preliminary rounds because of a scheduling switch.
“It’s very frustrating because everyone was like, ‘What are the Pan Am Games?’ And I’m the one buying tickets in advance and now I’m getting screwed over,” he said.
“With more than 550 ticketed sessions for the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games involving 51 different sports, it is unfortunate that sometimes we have to make changes to the sport schedule.” Dayo Kefentse, Manager of Media Relations for the Pan Am Games said in an email.
“In some cases, changes are made to ensure the best available athletes can compete. In others, it is at the request of sport federations.”
The ticket website does make it clear that schedules are subject to change both now and during the Games.
Clarke said he was willing to be flexible and would have settle for medal-round tickets for any sport, but a suitable compromise couldn’t be reached.
According to reports, ticket sales have been lackluster early on. As of last month just under half of tickets, about 45 per cent, were sold for the Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.
“It’s not going to be what I thought it was.”
As it stands now, Clarke will have to settle for the downgraded seats, with the difference in value refunded, or try and return the tickets altogether.
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