News, Tips & Bargains : Winter Olympics Tickets Released for Sale

About 250,000 tickets to several events at the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, have been released for sale to the public.

The tickets, which had been set aside for sale to Norwegians, include luge, bobsled, several women’s and qualifying skiing competitions, women’s speed skating, short track speed skating, figure skating training and ice hockey. The opening and closing ceremonies and figure-skating finals are sold out.

Tickets, which range from about $6 to $60, can be ordered by telephone (011-47-61-07-1212) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. in Lillehammer (nine-hour time difference) or fax (011-47-61-07-1333), and can be purchased only with a Visa credit card.

Four California companies offer Olympic services. Creative Journeys of Santa Rosa (800-451-1330) offers a tour Feb. 10-19 that includes air transportation from San Francisco, four event tickets, accommodations near Lillehammer, most meals and ground transportation. Cost is $2,595 per person. Creative Journeys can also assist with tickets and air arrangements.

Nordique Tours of Los Angeles (310-645-7527) and Scantours of Santa Monica (800-223-SCAN) can provide accommodations in Oslo, air and land arrangements and event tickets. Cartan Tours (800-841-1994) has sold all of its event tickets. It is offering some accommodations between Oslo and Lillehammer.

Major air carriers serving Oslo from Los Angeles include Delta, Scandinavian Airlines, Northwest, British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa and KLM. Your best bet is to call around. Round-trip tickets purchased seven days in advance for midweek flights, with a minimum stay of seven days, are $792 on Northwest and British Airways.