September 26 Thursday 2002
World Cup organisers announce ticket ballot

CAPE TOWN: Tickets to the 2003 World Cup will be made available via a ballot, organisers of the event announced on Wednesday. Initially, tickets were only available in packages based around teams or venues for the tournament. But fans will now have a four-week period starting from October 8 to apply for the 100,000 outstanding tickets. The 
draw will be made on November 25 and applicants will be informed of their success or failure from December 2.

Organisers said in a press release that although there was no guarantee of success, no applicant would be prejudiced as there would be no benefit being among the first to apply. Current holders of stadium packages for the Wanderers in Johannesburg, Supersport Park in Centurion, Kingsmead in Durban, Newlands in Cape Town and St George's Park in Port Elizabeth are not permitted to apply for individual match tickets at those venues.

The only game not included in the ballot is the World Cup final in Johannesburg on March 23, which is already a sell-out. Applications can be made on the internet, via the official ticket hotline or at the venues themselves.