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How to Buy Tickets

The information that follows will help you learn who’s eligible to purchase tickets, how tickets can be purchased and when tickets are available. Also included are details on ticket sessions and pricing.

Who?

Canadian Residents
All Canadian residents, regardless of citizenship, are eligible to purchase tickets for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Requirements/Essential Information:

  • Canadian residents must have a current and valid Canadian mailing address (P.O. boxes are not considered valid).
  • You must be able to be available to sign for the secure courier delivery of tickets in late 2009.
  • Only one account per person can be created and submitted.
  • In recognition of Visa's longstanding support of the Olympic Games, we’re proud to accept only Visa cards. No other payment card will be accepted. For additional information on payment and pricing, see Ticket Prices or Ticketing Program FAQs.

Outside Canada — International Ticket Sales

The sales process outlined here for 2010 Olympic Winter Games tickets is only applicable to Canadian residents. For those living outside Canada, regardless of citizenship, you must purchase tickets through the official ticket agent for your National Olympic Committee (NOC). For example, US residents (including Canadian citizens living in the US) must purchase tickets to the 2010 Winter Games through CoSport, a sister company of Jet Set Sports, the authorized ticket sales agent of the US Olympic Committee (USOC). For a list of National Olympic Committees and Official Ticket Agents who have chosen to participate in the Vancouver 2010 ticket program, see International Ticket Sales.

Persons with Disabilities
VANOC is committed to providing accessible venues and services for both the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and extends a warm welcome to spectators with disabilities. All venues have been reviewed for accessibility. This includes consideration for persons who are blind or visually impaired, persons who are Deaf or hard of hearing and persons with mobility and/or agility impairments.

When purchasing tickets you’ll have an opportunity to indicate whether you require accessible seating. If you indicate that you do require accessible seating, and are allocated tickets, a representative will contact you to discuss your requirements so the appropriate seating arrangements can be made.

How?
  • Online: During the Priority Access Period (December 12 -22, 2008), Canadian residents who submitted a request during the Request Period can purchase tickets online on a first-come, first-served basis. The wider Canadian public can also purchase tickets online during Phase 2 in early 2009.
  • By phone: During the Priority Access Period (December 12-22, 2008), Canadian residents who submitted a request during the Request Period can purchase tickets by calling 1.800.TICKETS (1.800.842.5387) between 9:00 and 19:00 (Pacific Time) Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) or Saturday between 9:00 and 16:00. The wider Canadian public can purchase tickets by phone starting in early 2009.
  • In person: All 2010 Olympic Winter Games venue box offices will open on the first day of the competition at that venue.
  • Official Partner Contests and Promotions: From time to time our official partners may run contests that include tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games as prizing. For information on current contests and promotions, visit the Sponsor Programs page of vancouver2010.com.

Please Note: Aside from vancouver2010.com or an official Vancouver 2010 Partner, any individual or group claiming to sell 2010 Olympic Winter Games tickets is making that claim falsely. Buyers should be aware that tickets bought from an unauthorized source may not be valid and may not be accepted for entry to 2010 Winter Games venues

What?

Your Vancouver 2010 Winter Games experience can include everything from one Olympic Winter Games event to a Paralympic Games group package. Use the links below to learn more about the options that interest you. Be sure to explore:

Ticketing Guide

Download the Ticketing Guide (PDF, 21 MB), complete with quick tips, ticket prices by day, and venue seating maps.

Olympic Winter Games

  • View ticket prices
  • Download a day-by-day schedule of events with ticket prices
  • Olympic Winter Games sports

Hospitality Packages: CoSport, sister company of Jet Set Sports, the Official Hospitality Services provider of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, offers packages of accommodation and tickets in Canada. Visit CoSport.com for more information or visit JetSetSports.com for information on corporate hospitality packages.

Paralympic Winter Games

  • Paralympic Winter Games ticketing information
  • Paralympic Winter Games sports
When?

Tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be sold in four phases, with the first phase starting October 3, 2008. Every step of the ticket program is designed to be simple, fair and accessible for any Canadian resident who’s interested in attending the Games.

Phase 1: Starts October 3, 2008
Phase 1 of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games ticket program has four stages: Request Period, Lottery, Notification Period and Priority Access Period.

Request Period (Closed November 7, 2008): These five weeks offer Canadian residents the best chance of securing the Games tickets they want.

What’s involved?

  • Create your own private and secure account through vancouver2010.com
  • Build your Olympic experience by searching for and selecting the events or packages of your choice.
  • Take your time; you can use the full five weeks of the request period if you like. Save your selections, discuss them with your friends and family and modify your selections at any time. All requests submitted between October 3 and November 7 will be weighted equally.
  • Once your application is submitted, your Visa card will be checked for authenticity, though no payments will be charged until the Lottery period (automated random selection).

Lottery (November 24-28): In cases where ticket demand exceeds the available supply, our official supplier of ticketing services, Tickets.com, will use an automated random selection process (lottery) to ensure the fairest possible ticket distribution on a session by session basis (for example each session you have requested, if oversubscribed, will be subject to a separate lottery). Your Visa card will be charged immediately upon allocation of tickets if you are randomly selected.

Notification Period (By December 10): All applicants will be notified via e-mail regarding the status of their request and which sessions and/or packages they may have secured. Seat locations will be confirmed in late 2009.

Priority Access Period (December 12–22): Any tickets not purchased during the initial Request Period will be re-released for sale exclusively to Canadian residents who submitted a request during the Request Period and is an opportunity to purchase additional tickets before they're again made available to the wider Canadian public. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Confirmation of your purchase will be immediate and payment will be charged at that time.

Phase 2: Mid 2009
Tickets remaining after Phase 1 will go on sale to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Canadian residents who missed the initial request period can purchase tickets directly through vancouver2010.com or by calling the Vancouver 2010 Ticketing Call Centre at 1-800-TICKETS (1-800-842-5387).

Paralympic Tickets: May 6, 2009

The Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games run from March 12–21, 2010. Tickets for the 10 days of the X Paralympic Games go on sale May 6, 2009 at vancouver2010.com. Be sure to include Paralympic events when planning your Winter Games experience!

Seat Assignment Period: Summer 2009
Ticket sales will close for a period of time once venue seating configurations have been finalized. Seat locations will then be assigned for all tickets purchased to that point, based on the following:

  • Tickets purchased during Phase 1 will be assigned seats prior to those purchased in Phase 2, however seat locations will be randomly assigned within each price category by the ticketing system.
  • Tickets purchased at the same time will be assigned together, and best efforts will be made to seat all tickets in an account together. For example, if you purchased four tickets to a women’s ice hockey session in Phase 1, those four tickets will be seated together. If you then purchased another four tickets to the same event in Phase 2, we will make every effort to seat them with the tickets purchased in Phase 1.

Phase 3: Fall 2009
Ticket sales will re-open once the seat assignment period ends. Tickets purchased from this point forward will automatically be matched with a seat location.

Phase 4: Games Time! February 12–28, 2010
All 2010 Olympic Winter Games venue box offices will open on the first day of competition at that venue. Please check the official competition schedule by sport for complete details. Available tickets can be purchased through vancouver2010.com, at the Main Ticket Centre or at any box office at Games time.

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