Paris Olympics chief Tony Estanguet defends ticket pricing despite backlash from fans
Paris Olympics chief Tony Estanguet defends ticket pricing after criticism
The head of the Paris Olympics organising committee defended the ticketing system for the 2024 Games, calling the first phase of sales a "success" on Thursday despite complaints about high prices. Around 3.25 million tickets have been sold over the last month, around a third of the total, but the release has been overshadowed by criticism of the costs.
"It's been a success this first phase, even if we understand the criticism and the frustration of some people who were not satisfied," Tony Estanguet told reporters almost 500 days from the start of the Games.
He defended the strategy of offering a limited number of seats -- one million -- priced at 24 euros ($25), with the majority in a middle category of around 100 euros or lower. A poll published at the weekend found that around four out of five French people thought that tickets were too expensive.
Part of the problem in the first phase was that fans were obliged to buy tickets for at least three different sports, often putting the bill at 300 euros or more per person, or well over a thousand euros for a family of four. The second phase, with sales starting from May 11, will enable buyers to take single tickets, including for some of the highlights including the opening ceremony and the athletics finals.
"This second phase will be an exceptional opportunity for people to buy experiences that will be probably once in a lifetime," Estanguet, a former French canoeing champion and triple Olympic gold medallist, added.
The prices for the hottest tickets are unlikely to mollify critics, however. Athletics finals will start at 125 euros and stretch to 980 euros. Beach volleyball finals will cost a minimum of 100 euros, while the basketball finals range from 90 to 980 euros. Seventy thousand places will go on sale for the hugely ambitious opening ceremony which will see national sporting delegations sail down the river Seine in an open-air celebration in the heart of the City of Light.
"It will be expensive because it will be unique. It will be very spectacular in this iconic city," Estanguet said.
The tickets on sale, with a top price of 2,700 euros, will be for seats on the bank of the river, offering an unrestricted view of proceedings. Another 400,000-500,000 free passes will be granted to people wanting to witness the ceremony once the complicated security arrangements for the event have been worked out by French authorities.
