Canadians who don't want to leave Olympic gold-medal hockey tickets up to lady luck can take their fortune into their own hands -- for the right price.

Vancouver Olympic organizers have partnered with a private company called CoSport to offer hospitality packages to the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

For guaranteed access to tickets and hotels, the cheapest package for two people is $3,800.

Add transportation, meals and other goodies, and the price can hit $34,500.

The packages went on sale Friday, and can be purchased on CoSport website.

There are 1,300 available, representing about 40,000 tickets of the 1.6 million on sale to the public.

Individual ticket sales are handled by a five-week application process that began October 3rd. Tickets are up for grabs and requests, via paper or email, until November 7th.

The price of tickets ranges from $25 to more than $1,000, not including service and delivery charges. Half of all tickets will be priced at $100 or less.

If demand exceeds availibility for certain events, tickets will be awarded by a lottery system.

VANOC also said it will release tickets in phases during the sales period so those who don't get tickets in the first round can apply again.

Olympic organizers hope the mostly-online sales process will defeat scalpers. However, unofficial ticket brokers have told CTV British Columbia they're planning on buying and selling Olympic tickets. One broker recommended that consumers make sure they deal with a reputable agency to avoid potential problems.

Service fees to be added to the base price include access to public transit but the cost of a seat on a bus to Nordic events in Whistler, B.C., will be extra.

Vancouver's Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) expects to collect more than $230 million from ticket sales.

The 2010 Winter Games will take place in Vancouver and Whistler, from Feb. 12 to Feb. 28. The Paralympic Games will follow from March 12 to 21.

2010 Olympic ticket fees by the numbers

  • $25: cost of round-trip ticket on spectator bus between Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., host of the Nordic events for the Games.
  • $20: cost of having a ticket order of more than $100 delivered.
  • $18: highest ticket surcharge. It includes access to public transit and administration fees.
  • $12: cost of round-trip ticket on spectator bus between Vancouver and Cypress Mountain, home of snowboarding and freestyle skiing.
  • $10: cost of having a ticket order of less than $100 delivered.
  • $10: average ticket surcharge. Surcharges are being applied on a sliding scale depending on the cost of the ticket.
  • $4: lowest fee being levied as a surcharge. All tickets $30 or less will be charged this fee.
  • $775: most expensive ticket for the men's gold medal hockey game.

2010 Olympic ticket facts

  • 1.6 million tickets will be available to the public.
  • 50 per cent cost less than $100.
  • The most expensive ticket is $1,100 for a seat at the opening ceremonies.
  • The cheapest event ticket is $25 for preliminary rounds of cross-country skiing and biathlon.
  • The most expensive ticket for the men's gold medal hockey game is $775.
  • Tickets to the nightly victory ceremonies will be $22, but a third of them will be given away for free.
  • Visa is the only payment card accepted
  • Some cheques and money orders will be accepted
  • Cash will not be accepted as payment for tickets during Phase 1

Visit vancouver2010.com or call the Vancouver 2010 ticket line at 1-800-TICKETS (1-800-842-5387) for more information.

With files from The Canadian Press