Olympics 2024: Paris sold a third of available tickets and there were buyers of 158 nationalities

Just over 500 days to the start of Paris Olympics, which will take place from July 26 to August 11 next year, the Organizing Committee has announced that a third of the tickets available for the event have already been sold. According to official data, in the first phase, which ended in early March, 3.25 million packages were sold that will allow them to attend competitions in various sports, a quarter of a million more than expected.

“It is a great satisfaction for us. It is the largest sale of tickets for a sporting event ever in France,” he said. Tony Estanguet, the main person in charge of the Games, in a press conference held this Thursday. “This initial response is very, very promising.”

The next phase will begin on March 15, when one and a half million single tickets will be offered to the public, giving access to the most outstanding events of the Olympic programme, such as the 100m final, the basketball gold medal match and the ceremonies of opening and closing.

According to data shared by the Organizing Committee, two thirds of the tickets were purchased by the French – a similar percentage to that of the host countries in previous editions – followed by the British, Americans, Germans and Dutch. In this first phase there were buyers of 158 nationalities. And, important fact considering the objective of the International Olympic Committee To attract younger generations to the Games, 44 percent of buyers were under 35.

The success in sales surprised some because during the first phase a lot of criticism was heard due to the price of the tickets. A survey conducted in the host country revealed that 82% of respondents believe that tickets are too expensive. And a few days ago, the Belgian Nafissatou Thiama two-time Olympic champion in the heptathlon, she said she feared her family would not be able to attend the Games due to high prices.

What were the costs? 70 percent of the tickets sold in the initial phase cost between 24 and 100 euros, 13 percent for less than 24 and 4.5 percent for more than 200.

Estanguet, who won three Olympic gold medals in canoeing during his sporting career, assured that the values ​​are “more or less in the same parameters as the previous Games” and recalled that there are many that will be sold to different social groups disadvantaged through the Municipalities of the cities that will receive the sports.

“We understand the criticism and frustration of people who weren’t satisfied,” he said. “But it is important to accept that this range of tickets allows income to be invested in Paris 2024. The budget of the Games is balanced thanks to this range. It is a matter of balance. We want to fill all the events and, at the same time, get the tickets help fund the Games.”

And he explained: “In the second phase we aim to sell 1.5 million tickets, and we intend that around 10 percent will be at 24 euros. It is important for us to have good access with tickets at those prices, but also exceptional tickets, because mainly the second phase will be the moment where you will have access to the most outstanding moments”.

The former canoeist has ensured that tickets have been sold for the 600 sessions offered and for all the scheduled sports.

Football was the most sought after by people, even if it was also the one with the most available offer in the first phase due to the large capacity of the stadiums in which it will be played. Track and field, rugby sevens, basketball, volleyball and field hockey followed.

Climbing and BMX Freestyle sold out in one day; but it should be clarified that these two disciplines will be played in venues with a fairly small capacity.

“We’ve already made history and we’re only just getting started, because there are still 500 days left until the Games,” Estanguet said. “We are very satisfied.”

Everything you need to know about the second phase

The second phase of the sale will start next Wednesday. As happened with the first, the system will not be acquired directly, but by drawing lots. For one month, interested parties will be able to register on the Paris 2024 digital platform and from May 11 until the beginning of June, depending on where the case places them, they will access the places that become free.

At this stage only single tickets will be offered and seats will be available for the most coveted events of the Olympic Games, with a varied price range. A maximum of six single tickets per session will be on sale, although this limit will be reduced to four for high-demand sessions.

For the electrifying final of the 100 meters of athletics, scheduled for August 4, the values ​​will range from 125 to 980 euros (which will allow you to attend three sessions). For the men’s basketball title match, on August 10, the most expensive will cost 980 euros, but there will also be more affordable ones, at 95. And tickets for the breaking, skateboarding and BMX finals will start at 50 euros.

In the case of the opening ceremony, on July 26, there will be some lucky ones who will be able to attend without spending anything. Is that for the first time in history, this act will take place outside a stadium, in the waters of the Seine (It is worth mentioning that the youth event of Buenos Aires 2018 was held on Avenida 9 de Julio, with the Obelisk as the main stage). Therefore, there will be “hundreds of thousands of people who will be able to request free tickets for this historic moment”, even if the exact number has not yet been communicated.

However, 70,000 tickets will also be put on sale at prices ranging from 90 to 2,700 euros.

For the closing party, which will take place at the Stade de France on 11 August, tickets will range from 45 to 1,600 euros.

Depending on demand, Paris 2024 will organize new sales phases, with the intention of selling everything during the Games. Furthermore, a resale platform will be opened in the second quarter of next year, for all those who change their mind or cannot travel to the French capital for the Games, where they will be able to recover the price originally paid if the interested buyer is available.