Paris Olympics: understand everything at the ticket office and its controversial prices

For "Popular Games", we will come back.

A poll published on Sunday March 5 indicates that an overwhelming majority of French people* (82%) find that the prices of tickets to attend the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are not cheap enough.   

Other bad news for the organizers of the 2024 Olympics, 79% of French people feel that obtaining places for the Olympic events is not easy in terms of procedures.

>> To read also: the portrait of Clara Copponi, on track for Paris-2024

This survey is published two weeks after the start of the first phase of sales of three million tickets per pack, which is the subject of virulent criticism for its complexity and the prices charged.  

• A contested first phase of sales 

During the first phase, which began on February 13 and will end on March 15, it is only possible to buy tickets by creating tailor-made packs.

Each pack must consist of three different sports with as many tickets in each of the chosen disciplines.

What to raise very quickly the price of the pack. 

Example: if a family with two children wants to have the fun of a lifetime by going to an Olympic basketball game, it must also buy four tickets in two other sports.

Under these conditions, it is difficult to build a pack without paying several hundred euros. 

Another criticized choice: the part of chance.

You had to register before the session to be drawn.

Each draw has a window of 48 hours to build their pack.

Under these conditions, only the very first draws were able to benefit from really advantageous prices.

I say to myself, well, let's discover sports, maybe it will be cheaper?

Genre the canoe online, quarter-final?... 90 balls anyway.

The fight in the 1/4 final?

100€.

Weightlifting man 60 kg?

125€.

Oh I found it!!

2nd round individual golf stroke play, €24.

Phew!

— Judge Dread (@judge_dread) February 26, 2023

Asked about this dissatisfaction expressed on social networks, Tony Estanguet, boss of the Paris-2024 organizing committee (Cojo), defended himself by assuring that the Paris Games were "not more expensive than the London Olympics [ in 2012, Editor's note]".  

The comparison is debatable: London, for example, offered 2.5 million tickets at 23 euros, where Paris offers "only" 1 million at 24 euros.

For the boss of the Cojo, the ticketing of his event is more accessible than that of the British Games because it offers half of its 10 million tickets on sale, at 50 euros or less.  

Tony Estanguet recalled that "tens of thousands of people (...) were able to do their dream program in 750 sessions to choose from with places at 24 euros".

"Obviously there is frustration, we know that," he admitted.

"We wanted an accessible ticket office, but that means that besides that, the other half finances the organization of the Games", he justifies.  

• What's next ? 

For those who were unable to buy tickets in the first phase, either because of the price or bad luck in the draw, there will be a second chance in a second phase: 7 million sesames covering all the events will be put on sale  

This time, no need to make packs and buy tickets in multiples of three: seats will be available exclusively individually.

Among them, access to the most coveted sessions, such as the finals of the 100 meters of athletics, the 100 meters freestyle or team sports tournaments.

Spectators will also be able to buy tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games.  

For those who have not obtained their precious tickets, there will remain the Paralympic Games ticket office in October 2023 and a 4th session which will sell the remaining tickets in December 2023. A ticket resale platform should also be set up by games.  

• Where does the ticketing money go? 

The expected ticketing revenue should approach 1.4 billion euros, including hospitality (high-end packages), ie one third of the overall organizational budget of 4.4 billion euros.

Another cause for concern for the organizing committee: according to this same survey, 64% of French people do not have confidence in the organization of the 2024 Olympics to control the cost of this event and balance its budget between expenditure and revenue. in a context of strong concern about galloping inflation.  

• Free proofs 

Some disciplines will be accessible free of charge.

Starting with the opening ceremony, scheduled for July 26, 2024. For the first time in history, this ceremony will be organized outside a stadium, on the Seine.

Access to the lower part of the quays, between the Pont d'Austerlitz and the Pont d'Iéna, will be chargeable.

But the high platforms will be free.  

All long-distance disciplines, planned in the heart of the capital, will also be accessible free of charge, whether for the marathon (on foot and by swimming), walking, triathlon, or even cycling (line race and against the watch).

The arrival will be charged but along the route will be free.   

In Marseille, the sailing events will be visible free of charge: spectators will be able to position themselves along the cornice, to watch the events.  

*This survey was conducted on March 1 and 2 with a sample of 

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