Over 120,000 tickets sold for 2015 FINA world championships

During a press conference at the Tatar-inform Information Agency, Deputy Director General of the Executive Directorate for Sports Projects, Azat Kadyrov, informed that with the 2015 FINA World Championships fast approaching the tickets sales keep growing with each passing day and advised not to leave the purchase of tickets until the last minute.

Ticket sales kicked off on September 30, 2014. More than 120,000 tickets have already been sold, 20% of the total number of tickets being purchased by foreign aquatic sports fans. Admittedly, this number keeps growing every day. So far there there are tickets available for all qualification rounds and finals in synchronised swimming, swimming and water polo, but there are no tickets left for diving and high diving events. For instance, tickets to the men’s 10m platform event on August 2 have already been sold out.

“We are all looking forward to these competitions as they will serve as qualifiers for the 206 Olympic Games. We are in for a hot summer, hot action and I hope hot support from all sports lovers who will come to root for athletes,” said Azat Kadyrov, CEO of the Executive Directorate.  

According to the statistics, 60% of all ticket purchases are made via the website www.ticketkazan2015.com (e-tickets). The ticketing website is available in three languages: Russian, English and Tatar. E-tickets can also be purchased through the Republic Tatarstan state services portal and infomats of the Electronic Government. An electronic ticket is the easiest and most convenient way of buying a ticket: it does not need to be exchanged for a paper ticket. To get an e-ticket, one needs to purchase it on the website www.ticketkazan2015.com, to print it out and to take it with them to the competition.

To facilitate the purchase of tickets, the ticketing agency does not require passport data; a buyer is identified by a full name, email address and mobile phone number. After personal data is submitted into the system, a buyer receives a text message and email notification confirming the creation of a user account. After that a buyer can choose an event of interest and buy a ticket. Tickets can be bought with a bank card or e-money. Upon completion of the purchase, an e-ticket will be sent by email.

After that a buyer prints out an e-ticket and brings them along to gain entry to an event. There’s no need to exchange it for a paper ticket. An e-ticket provides a pass to the competitions. To restore a lost or damaged ticket, one can print it out from an email box or a user account on the ticketing website.

40% of paper tickets have been sold at official ticket offices. For customers’ convenience, 26 official ticket outlets have been opened around the city, including four new ticket booths at the Kazan metro stations, ticket offices at the Kazan Arena Stadium and the Korston Mall and Hotel (it is here that most of tickets have been sold), ticket desks in Agropark, branches of the Russian postal service Pochta Rossii (Russian Post) and official offices of Tattelecom. Ticket outlets were also opened in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Almetyevsk, Nizhnekamsk, Naberezhnye Chelny and at the Kazan International Airport. During the Championships, there will be ticket offices available at each sports venue.

Prices for tickets to sporting events range from 50 to 3,000 rubles:

Water polo - from 50 to 1,500 rubles;

Swimming - from 100 to 1,000 rubles;

Synchronised swimming - from 100 to 1,500 rubles;

Diving – from 100 to 1,000 rubles;

Open water swimming - 800 rubles;

High diving - from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles.

One buyer is able to purchase 10 tickets per session, 6 of which are for sporting events, and 4 – for the Ceremonies or the Pilgrim show.  Each ticket is assigned a specific seat (with sector, row, seat number details). With the purchase of a ticket for a Championships event, a buyer will be entitled to free transportation on Kazan's public transport system for the day of that event. 

Gift certificates for competitions of the 16th FINA World Championships went on sale on February 10. They can be redeemed for tickets to any event of the upcoming tournament. Gift certificates are available in denominations of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 rubles.

If customers have any questions related to the ticketing programme, they can contact the ticketing programme call centre by dialing 8 800 775 07 70. The call centre offers customer services in three languages: Russian, English and Tatar. Call centre agents will provide detailed information on the competition schedule, venues, transport system, athletes, etc. Booking of tickets to sporting events is also available via the call centre. For foreigners, the easiest way to purchase tickets is the website www.ticketkazan2015.com.

“Regardless of which purchase option customers choose and which part of the world they live in, they will get access to the entire base of available tickets. The most important thing is not to leave the purchase of tickets until the last moment and to choose the easiest and the most convenient way of buying tickets,” Azat Kadyrov said.

With 100 days to go to the start of the 16th FINA World Championships, more than 50,000 tickets went on sale for the Opening/Closing Ceremonies and the Pilgrim show.

The FINA World Championships Opening Ceremony is a protocol event hosted for all the participants of the tournament: athletes, FINA Family, FINA Partners, Championships Partners, FINA National Member Federations, and the Organising Committee.   Therefore, for the first time in the history of sporting events, re-runs of the Opening Ceremony will be organised especially for citizens of Kazan and its visitors during eight days, from July 26 to August 2. The first re-run will be a charity event and will be shown to children of Tatarstan’s foster homes.