According to the Telegraph in the UK, technology surrounding the sale of tickets for the 2010 Commonwealth Games has been immersed in scandal and incompetence, with spectators told venues are sold out, only to see on television the stands are half empty and ticket offices often hawking tickets but are then unable to print them out.

The Times of India daily said the poor service had proved to be a huge embarrassment for India, which prides itself on being a technology power. The lead up to the Delhi games was hit by star pullouts and allegations of corruption and major issues with the games infrastructure.

Monica Jolly, new head of ticketing for the Commonwealth Games, laid the blame for the vast empty stands at venues across the city on corporates Fat Cats who don’t turn up on the day.

Approximately one million of the 1.7 million available tickets are said to have been sold but ticketing remains a huge concern for the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Organising Committee.

Jolly said to the press:

"Ticket sales were launched in June but India is seen as a late market and Indians buy tickets at the last minute," she said.

"We have done a lot of bulk orders for corporates though and they are big bulk orders.

"Sponsor and contractors get free tickets and they also have a right to buy tickets.

"But they have not turned up.

"The stands that are seen as empty are often these seats.

"People sometimes don’t turn up if they get tickets through promotions."


The Commonwealth Games, primarily limited to former British colonies, are the biggest-ever in the event's 80-year history and are scheduled to close this week.