A week after the launch of the ticket office for the Paris-2024 Olympic Games, the organizers are trying to defuse a tension, expressed in particular on social networks: the prices, which some consider excessive, undermine the stated objective of "popular" Games. .

In two days, the boss of the organizing committee of the 2024 Olympics, Tony Estanguet, was sent to the front twice to defuse the beginning of a controversy.

A passage on RTL, Wednesday February 22, and another on BFM, Thursday 23, two interviews during which the triple Olympic canoe champion justified the pricing policy that the general public has been discovering for a week.

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Asked about this dissatisfaction expressed on social networks, where the complexity of the sales system and the sometimes very high prices are denounced – such as places at 690 euros for playoffs in athletics – the boss of Paris-2024 defended himself by assuring on RTL that the Paris Games were "not more expensive than the London Olympics [in 2012, Ed]".

The comparison can be discussed: London, for example, offered 2.5 million tickets at the minimum price, more than double what Paris-2024 offers, with one million tickets at 24 euros.

The boss of the Cojo hammered home this sledgehammer argument, validating, according to him, an "accessible" ticket office: of the 10 million tickets on sale, "half" - 5 million, therefore - cost 50 euros or less.

Seven sports already unavailable for sale

"Except that this communication campaign comes too late. We had to warn people beforehand, try to explain the prices. There, it's a defense communication, it's not terrible", analyzes a specialist in sports marketing who preferred to remain anonymous.

On this first phase of sale by packs (lots of 3 tickets minimum, 30 maximum), which began on February 15 after a draw, three million tickets are put on sale, the other seven million will be sold at retail. from May 15, again after a draw.

So far, tickets are selling very well since in six days, seven sports – breaking, BMX free-style, BMX racing, climbing, fencing, skateboarding, triathlon – were no longer available for sale.

"It's going strong, it's going fast," commented the organizing committee on Tuesday.

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But that does not prevent messages of discontent, centered on tariffs, from thriving on social networks, without it being possible to measure the real extent of the discontent.

"Lamentable price and choice for tickets (...) shame on you, I'm disgusted", tweets for example @LaurentRochette.

"I took tickets (...) but it ruined me. Still shocked by the prices", is indignant @LyvLyvan.

A buyer, contacted by AFP and not wishing to be named, claims to have limited himself (500 euros of purchase) because of the prices.

"I would have taken many more tickets if it was cheaper. But these prices are related to such an event in my opinion", he nuances.

Major sporting events, "money machines"

"People are discovering that sports events are expensive. But all the same, the prices sometimes border on indecency, when the best seats are not even on sale yet," said the sports marketing specialist.

Tony Estanguet however recalled on RTL 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.

The accessibility of the ticket office is however part of the DNA of these Games which want to be "popular", a mantra on which the organizers have relied for several years.

This beginning of controversy cracks the building somewhat.

"Tony Estanguet confronts the reality of the promise of Games for all, and the reality of the average citizen. The closer we get to the Games, the more we realize that these will be games for a few", analyzes David Roizen, expert associated with the Jean-Jaurès Foundation.

"It's not a fault of Paris-2024, it's a reality of what major sporting events have become today, namely money machines".

The expected ticketing revenue should approach 1.4 billion euros, including hospitality (top-of-the-range packages), out of an overall budget of 4.4 billion euros, ie one third of the budget of the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games.

With AFP

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