Fanatic Sports, India’s Authorised Ticket Reseller for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, has served a legal notice to TB Sports Networks Private Limited, publishers of The Bridge for publishing a report that the ATR was overcharging on the resale of the tickets for the Tokyo Games.
In the notice served through its attorneys, C&C Associates has asked the publication to cease and desist from making any publication against Fanatic Sports.
The Bridge had reported that the authorised ticket reseller was permitted to charge up to a maximum of 20% handling charge on the face value of the tickets for the Games. According to a report by the Bridge, Fanatic Sports is charging an additional 60% to 85% over and above the actual price of the tickets. If the GST on the total resale price is also taken into consideration the additional price goes up to 112%.
The report further stated that Article 22 of the terms and conditions on the Tokyo 2020 website, states that an ATR can charge a maximum of 20% handling charge.
The ATR is defined as the National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee and/or an entity nominated by the NOC or NPC, approved by Tokyo 2020 and the IOC or IPC to promote, sell and distribute tickets within the designated territory of the relevant NOC or NPC.
An ATR may charge a reasonable per-ticket handling charge over and above the face value of the Ticket. For the Tickets of the Olympic Games, this fee may not be more than twenty per cent (20%) of the face value of the Ticket, and in any event, may not exceed the capped amount of 6,000 JPY per Ticket.
It further states, if any person, regardless of where they reside, believes they are being offered Tickets for purchase on terms that violate the Terms and Conditions, he/she should immediately contact Tokyo 2020.
The report further alleged that the agency reportedly is charging an 80% premium +GST on Badminton tickets, 85% + GST for hockey and 60% +GST for hockey.
The attorneys have also kept the option open to seek damages. “Our Client as of now is not in a position to calculate the damages caused due to the publication of this frivolous and completely baseless article and reserves it right to seek adequate compensation from you, the addressees jointly and/ or severely,” states the report.
Fanatic Sports, in the business of sports ticketing, hospitality and experiential travel, had also got the International Cricket Council mandate as an official travel agent for India for the ICC World Cup 2019.
Besides the IOC, the company has also been associated with the likes of ICC and FIFA.