KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — Tickets to the 29th SEA Games here (KL2017) are being sold to the public from today.

The tickets, priced at RM10 to RM20, are sold online via www.kualalumpur2017.com.my, while their availability at various sales kiosks will be announced later.

Tickets are required for entry to 19 events of KL2017, including the opening and closing ceremonies at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil.

Youth and Sports Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin said the ticket sales initiative was made due to limited capacity at some of the event venues and for a more systematic crowd control, especially for the more popular events.

He was speaking at the launching of the KL2017 ticket sales in Bukit Jalil, here, today. The 29th SEA Games will be held from this Aug 19 to 30.  

The sports events that require tickets for entry include aquatics, (diving, swimming, synchronised swimming and water polo), badminton, gymnastics, carate, taekwondo, pencak silat, futsal, netball, rugby, track cycling, basketball, sepak takraw, billiard and snooker, muay thai and football.

The 32 other events that can be watched for free include aquatics (open swimming), archery, athletics,  tenpin bowling, boxing, cricket, cyclingl (BMX and road race), equestrian, fencing, golf, hockey, ice hockey, judo, lawn bowl, petanque and sailing.

Later, at a press conference, Khairy who is also the Malaysia Organising Committee (MASOC)  chairman, said to avoid illegal selling of tickets or the presence of ticket touts, each individual would be limited to purchasing a maximum of four tickets, whether via online or at the kiosks.

"We will also be stationing volunteers outside the Games venues to prevent illegal selling of tickets.

"The ticket prices are reasonable, at RM10 each for the preliminary rounds, RM15 for the middle rounds and RM20 for the finals, hence the supporters and sports fans should be prepared to purchase them,” he said.

Khairy said the actual total number of tickets to be printed for this biennial games had not been set yet, as it would depend on demand and the number required by the participating countries.

On the 9th Asean Para Games from Sept 17 to 23, the minister said no tickets would be required for all the events. — Bernama