IOC stops Sochi 2014 ticket sales in light of allegations – London 2012 Olympic Games
In response to the allegations made against officials of the National Olympic committee, the International Olympic Committee has recently put a halt to the ticket sales for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics for the time being.
The officials against whom the allegations of selling tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games to the black market have been made belong to the Greek and the Serbian National Olympic committees. The National Olympic officials as well as other agents have
been accused by the Sunday Times to be involved in the black market sale of London 2012 tickets at a price 10 times more than their real value.
Despite the allegations, the Greek Olympic Committee has defended its president Spyros Capralos, by releasing the following statement, “The whole process was totally transparent and in accordance with the laws of the Greek state. Therefore, there can be
no issue on creating a 'black market' by the HOC which did not buy any tickets, whatsoever.”
In order to investigate the allegations, the IOC is working on the formation of a commission that would conduct an independent review of the ticketing process followed for the London 2012 Olympic Games that are scheduled to start from July 27. It is also
rumoured that the IOC might undertake to utilize the services of a credible auditing or law firm so that an unbiased and fair review of the ticketing process in light of the current allegations is made.
Sir Craig Reedie, who is an executive board member of the IOC expressed his sentiments at the allegations made in the following manner, “This is disappointing in the extreme. It is particularly difficult because there has been such extraordinary demand for
tickets and we are taking these claims about the system outside of the UK extremely seriously.”
According to the rules laid down by the IOC with reference to the ticket sales of the Olympic Games, no National Olympic committee is allowed to sell tickets outside their own country or to resellers that are unauthorized.
In the event that any Olympic official is found to have been involved in illegal ticket sales, the IOC holds the right to suspend such person.
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