Organizers of the Paris 2024 Games have hit back at criticism of high ticket prices ahead of the next release of tickets to the public this summer, saying the fees are fair and important to balance the event’s budget.
Disappointment over securing tickets has risen sharply in recent weeks following two rounds of sales in France, during which nearly one million of the much-hyped tickets sold out quickly at 24 euros each, while gymnastics included Seats at many of the country’s flagship events cost hundreds of euros.
Some French players also criticized the price, the first clear sign of a backlash in public opinion nearly a year after the opening ceremony at the end of July.
Ministers and organizers said millions of tickets for less than 50 euros had been sold, but they sold out quickly, while premium seats were not out of line with London 2012 tickets. They need to fund events and subsidize cheaper places.
“There was definitely some frustration . . . we knew from the beginning that we couldn’t meet the demand,” Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, told reporters on Tuesday.
Three-time Olympic champion and slalom kayaker Estanguet said public perception of prices did not reflect that only 5 percent of tickets cost more than 400 euros.
“It doesn’t provide an answer to the thousands of people who want more affordable tickets, but not everyone has access to all categories of all sporting events.”
Organizers said they had sold 5.2 million of the 8 million tickets that were open to the public despite criticism over the price. The rest will be released in the summer, and the pricing plan will not change, Estanguet said.
Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra also defended the price range, saying on Sunday that France was trying to avoid a “game tax” and that the event needed to be as self-sufficient as possible.
The outcry over tickets stems in part from organizers’ attempt to brand 2024 as a “Game for All”, with an emphasis on making the event accessible to everyone. This is back again, and organizers are also trying to ensure they can fund the events they pledged to fund, with minimal recourse to state coffers.
“The difference with other Olympics is that they put a lot of emphasis on the people’s Olympics, and the Olympics are not. Like the French Open or the UEFA Champions League, the ticket price for these events is not 15 euros,” Sports Review said analyst and analyst David Roizen.
Last year, organizers increased the budget for the 2024 Games by 10 percent to 4.4 billion euros. Just over a third of revenue is expected to come from ticket sales and hospitality, slightly more than the London Olympics. The rest is broadly divided between funding from the IOC and partnerships with sponsors — a roster of companies that organizers are still trying to add.
Overall, the event will cost just under 9 billion euros, including construction of buildings such as the Olympic Village.
After the latest round of tickets was made available in May, there was an immediate backlash. Popular events such as the women’s team gymnastics final sell for 690 euros each, while mid-round singles tennis tickets cost around 130 euros.
Martinique judoka Amandine Buchard, who won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, was among those taking part in the debate.
“Olympics for all, you say. In fact, we’re going to have to take out loans so our families and loved ones can come and see us,” Bouchard tweeted.
Organizers have since clarified that athletes will allocate tickets to their families.
The Interior Ministry, which is in charge of Olympic security, said Tuesday that hundreds of thousands of free tickets will also be provided for the opening ceremony, which will include more than a hundred boats sailing along the Seine. For the 100,000 paying guests attending the ceremony, prices will range from €80 to €2,700.
Additional reporting by Sara Germano in New York