The boss of Paris 2024 was delighted with the success of the ticketing of the Games, and swept away the protests concerning the prices of the tickets or the failures of the system, Wednesday, at the microphone of RTL.
Too complex and faulty ticketing? Since the opening of the ticket office for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on February 15, disgruntled comments have been pouring out on social networks: overpriced tickets, already inaccessible disciplines… A week after the start of the draw, several sports like climbing, fencing, triathlon and BMX were already sold out. Guest of the morning of RTL, Wednesday February 22, Tony Estanguet, the boss of the Organizing Committee of the Games, responded to these criticisms.
Behind the slogan of “popular games” and for all, chanted since the candidacy of Paris 2024, buyers have not necessarily met this ambition in the prices offered. What Tony Estanguet disputes, for whom the launch of the first phase of sales is a success: “In one week, it started very strong. In a few days, people rushed to the squares, he first rejoiced. Seven sports are already complete, which are rather new sports. We are delighted.”
Of the three million registered, “a few hundred thousand people already drawn”, said the three-time Olympic canoe-kayak champion.
“50% are places for less than 50 euros”
However, the first lucky ones to have been drawn regret the price of the remaining tickets, according to them unaffordable. “A million tickets are sold at 24 euros, and 50% are seats at less than 50 euros. Alongside, the other tickets [aux prix plus élevés, atteignant des centaines d’euros] must finance the Games. They balance the business model,” challenges Tony Estanguet before pressing: “We are not more expensive than the London Games, or to attend the Football World Cup or the Rugby World Cup. There is frustration, we know it. Of the three million registered, you can’t please everyone.” In London, in 2012, the price of tickets started at 20 pounds (22 euros) to peak at a maximum, for a sporting event, at 725 pounds (824 euros).
The president of Cojop (Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games) wanted to reassure future buyers. “This is a real-time draw. Currently there are places available at 24 euros in all sports. There are still places in sailing, golf, rugby, football. But maybe tomorrow there won’t be any more. On about fifteen disciplines, there are still places at affordable prices, below 50 euros”, he points out.
Of the 10 million tickets for sale in total, only three million were put on sale in this first phase. The remaining seven million will be available when single tickets are sold, “with affordable prices”, assures Tony Estanguet again. Furthermore, only 80% of sessions were opened in the first phase. For everyone, a single resale site will be available at the end of the year, managed by Paris 2024, which will provide a new opportunity to buy tickets, at the purchase price.
