Armenia's Hovhannes Davtyan (in blue( defeated Azerbaijan’s Ilgar Mushkiyev
LONDON—SkyNews has reported that Azeri officials are scalping tickets intended for use by Azeri officials at the London Olympic Games.
SkyNews cameras captured a man, who claimed to be working for the ministry of Azerbaijan sold a ticket stamped “complimentary” to a SkyNews undercover reporter.
The tickets, which had “Azerbaijan Olympic Committee” printed on front, were for a boxing match scheduled for August 3 and were being sold for 20 pound ($31). Accodring to SkyNews, the seller did not speak English, but a friend translating for him claimed that they have sold several tickets, which he alleged were given to them by the Azerbaijani ministry.
“There is no way these tickets are forged. If you see anybody with (an) Azerbaijan flag, go to them because probably they will have spare tickets as well,” the man told the SkyNews reporter.
“Those people work in the ministry of Azerbaijan and the ministry gave them these tickets to come here and support their teams. But these people don’t give a f***. They’re just selling and making money, simple as that,” the man continued.
It is illegal to re-sell venue tickets. Tougher legislation was introduced in 2006 for the Olympics to impeded scalpers.
Anyone convicted of scalping or selling tickets now faces a fine of 20,000 pounds and a maximum sentence of six months in prison.
London’s Metropolitan Police have arrested 29 people since the start of the Games for re-selling Olympic tickets.
Meanwhile, on the first day of the London Olympic Games Armenian judoist Hovhannes Davtyan defeated Azerbaijan’s Ilgar Mushkiyev in the men’s Judo 60 kg.
Hovhannes Davtyan was born on November 25, 1985. He got involved in Judo at the age of 12. Hovhanes in Europe’s vice champion (2007,2011), winner of World Super Cup, bronze medalist of 2009 World championships.
