Sports
Paralympics Tickets Beat Prediction
Some 2.7 million Paralympic
tickets have been sold – beating targets by 200,000 and predicted sales by £10m.
Chief executive of organiser Locog, Paul Deighton, said sales would bring in about £45m, showing the Games “more than washes its face” commercially.
He said high demand had prompted the release of 100,000 Park-only tickets and 100,000 contingency tickets.
As at yesterday’s afternoon the only tickets available on London 2012’s website were for Sunday’s closing ceremony.
The seats for the event, headlined by Coldplay, cost between £250 and £350.
But organisers said a few thousand more contingency tickets, such as multi-sport day passes for events at the ExCel, would be released by the next day.
Any event tickets returned by stakeholders, such as sponsors and international media, would also be put on public sale, added a Locog spokesman.
“We are heading towards a sell out, but we are still committed to making available as many tickets as possible to the public and this will continue right up until the close of the Games,” he told Tidesports source.
Mr Deighton rejected the claim that the success of Paralympic ticket sales was down to any failing of the ticketing process for the Olympics.
All the ticketing problems faced by Locog were the result of absolutely extraordinary demand against an inevitably limited supply of tickets that would inevitably lead to disappointment, he added.
Wednesday saw 230,000 people attend the Paralympics, with 175,000 in the Olympic Park and 28,000 at the ExCel centre, and the four millionth London 2012 spectator was expected later on Thursday, said Locog.
“The interest in attending the Paralympics has been extraordinary from the start,” said Mr Deighton, who was appointed Commercial Secretary to the Treasury in this week’s government reshuffle.
“The fact that there are people who would like to pay for a ticket and they can’t because they’ve already been sold is a new phenomenon so we’re delighted with that success… The Paralympics Games more than washes its face.”
An affordably-priced ticketing strategy had resulted in “extraordinary atmospheres” as families in large groups could enjoy a day out in the Olympic Park, said the former investment banker.
Half of the Paralympic tickets were priced at £10 or less, three-quarters at £20 or less and 95% at £50 or less.
Olympic Park day passes, providing access to most of the sporting arenas, cost £10 – or just £5 for children and pensioners – and passes only admitting people to the Park without being able to watch any sport were £5 (£1 concessions).
Some 90,000 tickets paid for by hospitality partners were distributed to schools.
“It’s been a great way of many people coming to enjoy both Paralympic sport and also see the wonderful venues that we’ve had available this summer,” said Mr Deighton.
The ticket-sale success showed how far the Paralympics had come in the past 20 years, when tickets for events at the Barcelona 1992 Games were free, said International Paralympic Committee CEO Xavier Gonzalez.
Even at the Beijing Paralympics, which were attended by 3.4 million people, only 1.8 million tickets were sold, he added: Some 1.6 million were given out by the Chinese government as part of a scheme to give disabled people more access to Paralympic sport.
The raised profile of the Paralympics generated by London 2012’s media coverage set a great momentum for Rio to build on in 2016, added Mr Gonzalez.
“The victory of Brazilian Alan Oliveira basically knocked out all football news in Brazil… that’s a pretty big deal.”
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.