Staff Writer
Athletes have added their voices to the chorus of outrage over the expensive tickets for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, which are criticized for undermining the organizers’ claims that the Games will be open to all.
Following the sale of more than three million multi-event packs during phase one, the second phase of ticket sales began on May 11 with little under 1.5 million single tickets being made available.
Sales have been brisk, with two thirds of the most recent batch being purchased on the first day, according to the organizers.
Tickets for the men’s judo heavyweight championship, in which Teddy Riner, a three-time gold medalist in the Olympics, is anticipated to compete, were sold out in less than two hours.
“To be honest, it got off to a strong, even excessive start. It demonstrates the fervor that exists, according to the organizing committee.
However, similar to phase one, there were loud criticisms, notably on social media, that Tony Estanguet, the executive director of Paris 2024, had broken his commitment to provide “Games for all” by charging exorbitant rates.
We were informed that the sales periods were a challenging time, so we anticipated the criticism. The former three-time Olympic canoe champion Estanguet admitted, “But we misjudged the scale.
“We knew that some people would be disappointed with the results because four million people registered for the draw for 1.5 million tickets on sale.”
Nearly 150,000 of the one million tickets that were promised at the lowest price of 24 euros ($26) went up for sale in phase two.
But because these tickets were the first to sell out, prospective customers soon discovered that the price had increased significantly.
Sports enthusiasts were given tickets at 690 euros and even 980 euros for the athletics semifinals, as well as as much as 2,700 euros for the opening ceremony, three days after the second phase’s introduction.
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@BenjiTjumper, a disgruntled customer, tweeted: “The prices of the Olympic Games tickets… What a big joke,” while @KimKy_Love added: “Excuse me, Paris-2024, but the opening ceremony at 2 times the minimum wage (!! ), it’s a joke?”
The costs infuriated athletes as well.
Olympic heptathlon champion Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium said, “I’m not even sure that my family will be able to come to see me, it’s so expensive.”
Amandine Buchard, a French judoka who won the bronze medal in the world championships, blasted the organizers on Twitter: “Olympic Games accessible to all, you stated… In order for families and loved ones to have the opportunity to visit us, you actually need to take out a bank loan. At least assuming there are still tickets available before then.
How is it possible to charge such exorbitant prices for our sport? Jimmy Gressier, a French runner, posted on Instagram.
Amelie Oudea-Castera, France’s minister of sports, justified the pricing strategy on May 16 by stating that prices were lower than at past Olympics.
Nevertheless, she acknowledged that “the accessible tickets, at 24 euros, exist but they go too quickly.”
A Games for all “doesn’t exist” in the commercialized world of modern sports, according to sports policy specialist David Roizen.
Roizen told AFP that “events reserved for a financial elite” included the Olympics and the Champions League final. “Having the idea of a Games for everyone raised is a mistake.”
