Paralympic ticket sales hit 1.6 million

Brazil's judo athlete Rafaela Silva holds the Olympic torch during a ceremony with the Paralympic torch at the Christ the Redeemer statue ahead of the 2016 Rio Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sept 6, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

RIO DE JANEIRO - Ticket sales for the Paralympic Games in Rio have hit 1.6 million as interest in the quadrennial event swells, according to organizers.

The figure has quadrupled since the Olympic Games closing ceremony on August 21, when only 300,000 tickets had been bought for the September 7-18 Games.

Demand hit a peak on August 24, with 145,000 tickets being snapped up.

Ticket prices range from around three US dollars to 40 US dollars.

The most popular sports have been swimming, athletics, basketball, football and volleyball, organizers said.

Fans in Rio de Janeiro state have bought the most tickets followed by residents of Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, the Federal District and Paraná.

The Brazilian Paralympic Committee said on Sunday that it hoped ticket sales for the Paralympics would reach 2 million out of an overall tally of 2.4 million.