AWRA Slams London Olympic Ticketing

The Australian Womensport and Recreation Association (AWRA) has issued a statement in which it "strongly condemns" the London Olympic Organising Committee for adopting a policy in which ticketing prices for some women's events have been set at lower prices than similar men's events

AWRA states that "the organisers of London's 2012 Olympics stand accused of undervaluing women's sports and contravening the Olympic Charter's commitments to equality by pricing tickets to some women's events well below the cost of their male equivalents."

AWRA highlights that "some are going for less than half the price. "

Top tickets for the women's basketball final will cost £325 compared to £425 for the men's final, while the best seats for the women's boxing final are £275, compared to £395. The women's football final seats cost £125, against £185 for the men's final.

AWRA President Janice Crosswhite, explained that "this is a terrible precedent and when I first heard about it I really thought it was a media stunt. I could not believe that in the 21st century we would see such a precedent and could take this backward step. There is no doubt it sends a clear message that women's sports are not valued equally. Lower price equals lower value. Judgements are being made about the value of women's sport that don't reflect its value in the market: women's sport is at an all-time high."

AWRA highlight that a fundamental principle of the Olympic Charter is "to encourage and support the promotion of women in sport at all levels and in all structures with a view to implementing the principle of equality of men and women".

For more information please contact Janice Crosswhite on 03 9719 7553/0458 910 396.