CVC: CWG opening ceremony tickets were sold at one-tenth price

Tickets of Rs50,000 denomination for the opening and closing ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games were sold for Rs5,000 despite their huge demand among the enthusiasts, the Central Vigilance Commission has said in its latest report.

In its annual report, the anti-corruption watchdog said the statement of revenue of Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games shows 229 tickets worth Rs50,000 for the opening ceremony were sold at one-tenth cost.

It said 335 tickets of the closing ceremony were also sold at the same cost causing a revenue loss of Rs2.54 crore to the exchequer.

"In the above ticketing work, it was also observed that observations of the finance sub-committee were prepared a day earlier to the actual meeting date. These observations were at variance with the actual observations made by the finance sub-committee," the Commission said.

The CVC came heavily on the Organising Committee pointing out official concerned "wrongly" recorded the ticketing agency was approved whereas the actual recommendation of the finance sub-committee was to put forth the proposal before the executive board.

"The work was awarded without complying with the finance sub-committee's observations and without going to the executive board," it said.

The opening and closing ceremonies of the controversial Commonwealth Games held in October were a packed house affair with many enthusiasts trying hard to get the much-in-demand tickets without success.