LAUSANNE, Switzerland – With five months to go before the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian organizers have sold less than half the available tickets for South America’s first games.
Rio organizers say about 47 per cent of the total 7.5 million tickets have been bought so far.
READ MORE: Zika virus overshadows buildup to Rio de Janeiro Olympics
Rio organizing committee spokesman Mario Andrada says the revenue from ticket sales stands at $194 million, or 74 per cent of the total target.
Andrada says tickets for “premier events” and the Aug. 5 opening ceremony at the Maracana Stadium are essentially sold out.
READ MORE: Rio Olympic water badly polluted, even far offshore
He says most tickets for the foreign market have been sold, leaving domestic sales as the main priority.
Speaking to reporters after Rio reported to the IOC executive board, Andrada says organizers plan to set up electronic ticket sales booths across the city.