"SCALPING” ALLEGED Games committee cancels tickets

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33425, 5 January 1974, Page 2

"SCALPING” ALLEGED Games committee cancels tickets

A hundred Commonwealth Games tickets were cancelled yesterday in an attempt to exclude exploitation by groups, the chairman of the Games ticket committee (Nir J. E. Davies) said last evening.

“We don’t want to see the Games deteriorating into a black market enterprise as far as tickets are concerned,” said Mr Davies. “It would be bad for the image of the Games.’’

The tickets — for the opening ceremony on January 24 — were cancelled when the committee discovered that they had been offered for sale at a price greater than their original cost. Mr Davies said that the committee took the action only after firm evidence had been obtained. Mr Davies said that he could not reveal how the committee learned of the resale offer. But a member of the committee had been offered two $2 tickets for the opening ceremony at $5 each. “It is genuine scalping; a Krofit is quite definitely eing made.” he said. The resale of tickets was • breach of the conditions under which the tickets were issued. Accordingly, steps were made to cancel the tickets concerned.

•I Mr Davies said the com-, Jmittee had received legal advice, “but I doubt whether! "any legal action will be -taken. / “We will inform the people i J concerned, and wait and see what they come back with," he said. The conditions on the s Games tickets are: i Each ticket admits the 1 bearer only, and money will not be refunded except at the discretion ; of the committee. ' Each ticket is not transfer-

able for greater than the face value, and the right to cancel is reserved. The right is reserved to refuse or revoke admission, and rights are forfeited upon breach of conditions. Mr Davies said that the i resale of tickets should not become prevalent. “I hope the public will support us in resisting this kind of proi cedure.”