Tony Estanguet responds to the controversy over the price of tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympics. Panoramic
The president of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee justified the price of tickets for the Olympics despite the dissatisfaction of many buyers.
The first phase of ticket sales for the 2024 Olympics is “a success“, rejoiced the COJO, the organizing committee of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. A week after the opening of the first sales phase, several sports, including fencing, climbing and skateboarding have d have already sold out their stock of tickets. “It goes very well, very strong. In less than a week, we already have sports that have left, but only for this sales phase“, explained Paris 2024.
But in the ranks of Internet users wishing to obtain precious sesames for the event, the speech is very different. Many buyers are unhappy or frustrated with their experience. While three million people had registered for the draw, messages of disappointment and sometimes anger are multiplying on social networks.
60 euros for two hours of beach volleyball on a Thursday morning at 9 a.m.
The main reason is the high prices. The places at 24 euros promised by the organizers are very rare when you find yourself on the purchasing platform. The organizers promised a million, except that half of them have already been reserved by the State and the communities.
For happy Internet users pulled to the ground, it is very often necessary to pay more than 100 euros for a ticket. Regarding athletics and fencing, it is even 195 euros minimum that must be released for qualifications. Another point of contention: the packs. The offer was described as confused by some buyers, forced in particular to compose packs with certain sports that they did not necessarily want to buy.
Invited on RTL this Wednesday morning, Tony Estanguet defended himself. “We are no more expensive than in London in 2012. This is the case for the football and rugby world cups. These are the prices“, assured the president of the Organizing Committee of Paris 2024 adding that there was “tens of thousands of delighted peopleof their purchases. “Inevitably, there is frustration, we know it because we will not be able to serve everyone“, However, recognized the triple Olympic canoe champion.
« QWhen you go to see a big concert today, tickets are several hundred euros, for amusement parks it’s the same. »
Tony Estanguet
The leader recalled in passing the economic model of the Olympics to allow the balance of the budget. “We have a million tickets at 24 €, in all sports. In all sports. We have 50% of the tickets, that is to say 5 million tickets, at €50 and less. For what ? Because we wanted an accessible ticket office. But that also means that, besides that, the other half of the tickets finance the organization of the games. It’s a way to balance the economic model as well.“, detailed Estanguet judging the price of places in line with those of major events.
«This is the case with the World Cups of football or rugby, these are the prices. When you go to see a big concert today, tickets are several hundred euros, for amusement parks it’s the same. The Games are once every hundred years. They are the greatest champions on the planet and they have value. And again, there is more demand than supply. We try to balance“, concluded the manager announcing that there were places left at 24 euros in sailing, rugby, golf and for the football tournament.
The planned ticketing revenue should bring in nearly 1.4 billion euros, including hospitality (high-end packages), i.e. one third of the budget of the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (Cojo), which is 4.4 billion euros. euros.