Asian Games ticket sales sluggish

Only 15 per cent of 2.72 million Asian Games tickets have been sold just four days before the event starts, organisers said on Wednesday.

South Korea's second largest city of Busan hosts the region's top sporting event from September 29 to October 14.

Fifty per cent of the 43,000 tickets for the opening ceremony were sold, while only seven per cent of 47,000 tickets for the closing ceremony have been purchased, organisers said.

"Tickets for popular games such as soccer are almost sold out. We expect ticket sales will become robust as the Asian Games approach," said Park Seung-chan, on official of the ticket division of the Busan Asian Games Organising Committee.

More than 7,000 athletes from 44 Asian countries will compete for 419 gold medals in 38 sports in Busan and the neighbouring cities of Ulsan, Yangsan, Changwon and Masan.