Only 64 days left until athletes from across the world will be gathering in PyeongChang, Republic of Korea, to witness the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics, which runs from 9th to the 25th February.

Earlier this week the International Olympic Committee announced Russia’s ban from the 2018 Winter Olympics following allegations of state-sponsored doping in the 2014 Games. Russian athletes who wish to compete, and can prove they are clear of doping, will be allowed to participate under a neutral flag and be referred to as an Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR).

Whilst many in Russia feel this decision is unfair, others believe it was the right choice and will set an example to help keep the Games clear of doping. Despite this news, preparations are almost complete in PyeongChang and tickets for popular events such as Cross-Country Skiing, Ice Hockey, Figure Skating and Ski Jumping are already on sale.

The Olympic website is warning ticket buyers about the risks of not purchasing tickets from an authorised source; failure to produce an official ticket could result cancellation of the tickets, being refused entry and asked to leave the venue and also there will be no refund available or the option to exchange for an authorised ticket.

If you have travelled to the Republic of Korea and fail to produce a valid ticket you may risk being left out of pocket as it is unlikely you will be able to get your money back from the company you brought the ticket from. Although some travel insurance policies will offer cover for pre-paid event tickets if you are unable to make the event or need to cancel your holiday, the policy will not cover fraudulent tickets that have been purchased through an unauthorised site.

To avoid disappointment, it is important to make sure you buy your tickets from an authorised website and keep any receipts and payment records to be used as evidence if you need to claim. In addition, to ensure you are covered should anything go wrong we recommend you look for a policy that will cover medical expenses, cancellation for any cause beyond your reasonable control, personal possessions and pre-paid event tickets.

Although these travel insurance policies may be slightly more expensive than a standard policy, it will be worth a couple of extra pounds should an unforeseen event put a dent in your travel plans.

Sports enthusiasts, bloggers or journalists may be travelling to the 2018 Winter Olympics with hopes of securing that winning shot which will mean taking camera or recording equipment away with them. It is worth noting, most travel insurance policies will not cover gadgets as standard so if you are looking to take gadgets and the associated equipment (i.e. lenses, cases, etc) with you we recommend you look for a policy that will either cover gadgets as standard or allow you to add on cover for an additional premium. And always check the cover level and single item limit is a suitable amount to cover your equipment before buying the travel insurance policy.