Although tickets to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro have been available online for some time, the first physical ticket offices have opened this week in host nation Brazil. Two offices located in Shopping Leblon mall in South Rio and Shopping Via Parque in Barra da Tijuca have opened their doors, with plans for more than 30 additional ticketing centers to also open across cities including Rio, Sao Paulo and Salvador.
Brazilians and foreign visitors can visit the offices to either purchase tickets or to pick up tickets they have already bought online.
Ticketing Director Donovan Ferreti notes that approximately 70% of total tickets available have been sold, with 1.8 million tickets still available. Prices starting around 40 reais ($12).
“We are expecting a large mass of people in the ticket office. It is the profile of Brazilians to buy last minute,” Ferreti said. “But it is important to say that the price on the website is exactly the same as in the ticket office, you don’t need to wait to come to the ticket office to purchase your ticket.”
The opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games is scheduled for August 5th.