Sochi Olympics tickets surpass 1 million sold

Hockey fans watch play between Canada and Norway during a men’s ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. AP

SOCHI, Russia—Organizers say the Sochi Games have surpassed the milestone of one million tickets sold.

Olympic officials made the announcement Friday, one day after the Russian men’s hockey team made its Sochi debut and helped push the number over the top.

A Sochi record 106,000 fans packed into Olympic Park on Thursday, many coming to watch Russia beat Slovenia 5-2 in hockey.

Organizing committee chief executive Dmitry Chernyshenko says ticket sales are on par with the group’s expectations heading into the games. He says Olympic Park has been “electric,” especially during the medal ceremonies held after each event in its central plaza near the soaring cauldron and flame. He says more than 500,000 fans have visited.

“We are quite happy with the atmosphere that we’re having at the venues,” Chernyshenko said.

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