Pan Am Games tickets go on sale

Tickets for the 2015 Pan Am Games went on sale Monday. Prices start at $20, and most of the tickets are available for under $45.

About 160,000 tickets were purchased during the pre-sale phase in September, but organizers say tickets for many of the most popular sports, such as soccer, rugby, basketball and track and field are still available.

A limited number of half-price tickets for kids under 16 years of age and seniors are also available.

Ticket sales are expected to bring in roughly $40 million, with sponsorships and government subsidies to help cover the rest of the Games' $2.5-billion price tag.

Organizers predict the international competition will draw 250,000 visitors from outside Ontario, while the rest will likely be local.

You can buy tickets onlinehereor call1-855-726-2015.

While construction for the games appears to be on schedule, preparations have not been without problems.

Late last month, Ontario's auditor general released the findings of an investigation that found the Pan Am Games security budget has more than doubled from the original estimate. The report also said that the procurement of security personnel is behind schedule.

The Pan Am Games run from July 10 to26across the GTA, as well as some locations in Hamilton.

Tickets for the Parapan Games, which will run from Aug. 7 to 15, go on sale in March.