Glasgow Apologizes for Ticketing Glitch; Sao Paulo Warns Tourists

Glasgow Apologizes for Ticketing Delays

Organizers of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games apologized for "unprecedented delays" in purchasing event tickets.

Over 100,000 tickets for all 17 sports and the opening and closing ceremonies went on sale Monday, leading to website glitches and long delays in being able to purchase tickets.

"We let a lot of people down which we are very sorry for," Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg told BBC Radio in an interview.

"To put it simply, the system just did not cope. Despite being fully tested, it just did not cope with the churn."

Fans experienced multiple hour delays and website crashes that sent them to the back of the line of ticket buyers, further delaying their experience.

Organizers did not expect the high demand despite 2.3 million people applying for the first million tickets offered last year.

"We understand many people have had a frustrating experience on the Glasgow 2014 ticketing website and with the call center," Gordon Arthur, chief communications officer at Glasgow 2014, said in a statement.

"All our energies and efforts are focused on ensuring people can purchase tickets as quickly as possible."

The 2014 Commonwealth Games start July 23.

Czech NOC Apologizes for 1984 Boycott

The Czech Olympic Committee (COV) apologized to the athletes who did not get to participate in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles due to the Soviet Bloc boycott.

"Fair play is the Olympic idea's basic mission. We have to cope with what happened in the past," COV chairman Jiří Kejval told the affected athletes at a ceremony in the Czech Senate.

"We must find courage to say loudly what was correct and what was wrong, what was a blatant mean trick."

Czechoslovakia was lumped in the Soviet boycott of the 1984 Olympics, which came as retaliation for the United States-led boycott of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

Sao Paulo Police Release Safety Pamphlet for World Cup Tourists

Police in Brazil have compiled a pamphlet on how to stay safe when visiting the country next month for the World Cup.

"Do not react, scream, or argue" if someone tries to rob you, the brochure suggests, with the idea being that a confrontation could provoke a would-be thief into further violence.

Police in Sao Paulo put the information together to prevent "latrocinios," or robbery that ends in murder, according to newspaper Estadao de Sao Paulo.

"Tourists come mainly from Europe and the United States, where they do not see this crime very often," said Mario Leite, head of World Cup security in Sao Paulo.

The pamphlets also advises visitors not to flaunt valuables or go out alone.

At 25.2 killings per 100,000 citizens in 2012, Brazil has one of the highest murder rates in the world.

Written by Aaron Bauer and Nick Devlin

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