• Sluggish ticket sales raise fears of half empty stadium• Free tickets will be given away by Qatari organisersTicket sales for the World Athletics Championships in Doha are far more sluggish than expected, making it highly likely that large numbers of free tickets will be given away to migrant workers and children who will be bused in by organisers, informed sources have told the Guardian.
Organisers are already blanking off the top section of the 40,000-seater Khalifa International Stadium to make the event, which starts on Friday, look better on TV. However even with a reduced capacity and reasonable ticket prices starting at 60 Qatari rial (£13), seats are still readily available.