Aussies may get refund for Tokyo Games tickets, but will be out of pocket
Many Australians who bought tickets for the Tokyo Olympics from brokers will not get full refunds – and they may have a long wait to get any refunds at all.
The outbreak risks disrupting the Tokyo Games along with other events in Japan. (Reuters: Athit Perawongmetha)
The question of refunds came into play a week ago when the Japanese government decided to bar most fans from abroad because of the pandemic.
Tickets to overseas fans are generally sold through authorised tickets resellers (ATRs), which are typically appointed by national Olympic committees.
The ATRs are allowed to charge a 20 per cent handling fee on tickets.
CoSport, the ATR for Australia and several other countries, said in a letter over the weekend to ticket holders that it would not refund the handling fee.
“CoSport and other Olympic entities encouraged the Japanese government and organisers to refund all cost incurred by international spectators,” said the letter, signed by CoSport president Robert F Long.
Tokyo organisers have said they would refund the face value of the tickets, but are not responsible for other added charges.
They have said they will not cover the extra fees imposed by ATRs, or cancellation fees for hotels or flights.
CoSport added that it would not receive refunds from the organisers until “the third quarter of this year” and could not start paying refunds until then.
It has also asked purchasers to apply for refunds almost immediately.
Tokyo organisers have said about 600,000 Olympic tickets have been sold to people outside Japan.
