GOLDOC: We stuffed up
Games organisers admit signing off on tickets
GOLD Coast Commonwealth Games organisers have admitted they “proofed” and approved the mass release of opening ceremony tickets with the wrong day on them.
About 14,000 of the 35,000 tickets sent out for the showpiece opening on Wednesday, April 4, have “Thursday” incorrectly printed on them.
When fronting media on Tuesday afternoon to first reveal the stuff-up, Games or- ganising committee (GOLDOC) CEO Mark Peters was asked if it was Ticketek’s fault and he said it “emanated at their end”.
The Bulletin requested clarification from GOLDOC yesterday on whether it proofed the “keepsake” opening ceremony tickets.
A GOLDOC statement in response last night said: “GOLDOC has checked the approval process for the opening ceremony ticket that included the incorrect day with Ticketek and the GOLDOC ticketing team.
“Both GOLDOC and Ticketek approved the proof and subsequent release of the opening ceremony ticket,” the statement said.
Fallout from the fiasco continued yesterday.
Opposition Shadow Games Minister John-Paul Langbroek called for answers to how such a bungle could occur after the Bulletin revealed other tickets for weightlifting, triathlon and table tennis had been sent out with wrong times on them.
Games organising committee (GOLDOC) chair Peter Beattie fronted media yesterday morning calling the affair an “embarrassing blip”.
While the several hundred tickets with wrong times were reissued, he reiterated the 14,000 opening ceremony tickets would not be reprinted but remain valid for entry.
GOLDOC has promised ticketholders who want one with the correct day on it as a keepsake that they will supply them if requested after the opening ceremony.
Mr Beattie said he didn’t believe anyone would miss the opening ceremony because of the error on their tickets.
“You would have to be living under a rock or another planet like Mars if you didn’t understand the Games were on April 4. It’s a blip, a bit of an embarrassment. Will it affect the opening ceremony? No. Will it affect anyone who has a ticket? No. My advice is keep the ticket and sell it on eBay after the Games because you’ll probably find someone who wants that unique ticket.”
Mr Peters added: “We are embarrassed, we apologise but we need to get on with it. It’s about delivering a great event.”