Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 tickets announced

The Emirates Arena from above. Pictured below is the athlete's village

Glasgow 2014 took the wraps off the ticket prices on Monday, even though they will not go on sale until 19 August.

Tickets for the opening ceremony range from £40 to £250 and for the closing ceremony from £30 to £200,.

But throughout the rest of the Games, tickets for 330 of the 425 sessions will cost £30 or less while the 100 metres final, where organisers hope Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Usain Bolt will be involved, range from £30 (£15 concessions) to a top price of £90.

Deputy chief executive Ty Speer spoke of a desire to be “open, transparent and tell it like it is”, as he seeks to avoid the empty seats that dogged the early days in London.

Mr Speer was a key figure in the success of the London

Olympics. He has been joined on the Glasgow 2014 organising committee by Jonathan Edwards, the Olympic gold medal-winning triple-jumper, and both insisted that getting the tickets right, which includes the prices and ensuring open and fair access, was a crucial factor in staging a successful Games.

Ticket prices are lower than for London and two-thirds of the one million tickets available for 17 sports, to be competed in over 11 days next summer, will be priced £25 or less and at least 70 per cent of all the seats will be available to the general public.

Finals are more expensive, typically starting at £40, or £20 for children and pensioners.

Half-price concessions will apply for both under-16s and over-60s for the first time at the Commonwealth Games, while tickets also come with free public transport around Glasgow.

The tickets will be available for a month through various means, online and postal applications, with no distinction made over those who apply on the first day and those who apply on 16 September.

Another first is the merging of the Para-sports events into the mainstream Games, ensuring that people will be able to witness the best disabled athletes from across the Commonwealth competing at the same time as able-bodied athletes, and all contributing to the one medals table.

Lord Smith of Kelvin, Glasgow 2014 Chairman, said: “This is a big day for Glasgow 2014 and one that has taken a substantial amount of planning.

“This isn’t just about selling a million tickets. It’s about making the Games accessible to all. We have spent many months designing a ticketing programme that reflects the vision and values of Glasgow 2014. Today’s the day we set our stall.

He added: “This is a Games for everyone and by that I mean success not just for the organising committee and our partners, but also for the people of Glasgow, Scotland and the Commonwealth.”