The Rio 2016 Olympics Organising Committee (Rio 2016) has begun ticket sales for Brazilian residents. Residents of Brazil can log on to Rio 2016's official website until April 30 and apply for tickets to the Games – the first to be held in South America. Those living outside Brazil can go to the same place to find out who is the Authorised Ticket Reseller (ATR) for their territory of residence, so that they can get their tickets for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Applications made by residents of Brazil during this first phase of sales will be entered into a draw, with the results of who has got which tickets announced in June. In recognition of the long-lasting partnership between Visa and the Olympic Games, only Visa cards will be accepted in payment for tickets. This process means that, no matter when the application is made during the first phase, everyone has an equal chance of getting the Games tickets that they have applied for. A second draw will be made in July, with the results announced in August, but this will be open only to those who participated in phase one. A first-come, first-served online sales phase for Brazilian residents will then be started in October, with box offices expected to open in Brazil in June 2016.
For people from outside Brazil, their local ATR will be the place to go. By using the tools available on Rio's website, fans will immediately be able to check if they have the correct ATR and that they are buying from an authorised source.
In total, about 7.5 million tickets for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be put on sale, with more than half priced at 70 Brazilian reals (about 22 US dollars) or less. The cheapest tickets will be 40 Brazilian reals (about 13 US dollars), while the most expensive ticket for a sports event will be 1,200 Brazilian reals (372 US dollars), and the most expensive Opening Ceremony ticket will be 4,600 Brazilian reals (1,425 US dollars). Fans will also be able to watch some events like the marathon and road cycling for free, as the athletes compete on the city's streets.
