Tony Estanguet says a little more about the 3rd phase of ticket sales

JO DE PARIS – This is a subject that comes up regularly on the table since the sale of tickets for the Olympic Games. Faced with a wave of criticism over the prices deemed too high, the boss of the organizing committee of the Paris Olympic Games, Tony Estanguet, again defended this Tuesday, May 23, his ticketing model, evoking a ” hit “ with already 6.8 million tickets sold out of the 10 million available.

“Fourteen months before the Games, we have already sold 6.8 million tickets. This shows a very strong enthusiasm. This is an important success in terms of sales, which exceeds our objectives”assured the boss of the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (Cojo) during a press briefing.

Next to « 5,2 millions » tickets were sold out of the 8 million available to the general public in the two sales phases, the second of which has just ended, he said. After selling 3.25 million tickets during the first phase of sales by packs, « 1,89 million » were sold individually, explained Tony Estanguet.

To reach the figure of 6.8 million, we must add 1.6 million tickets sold out of the 2 million reserved for communities, the State and officials, said the boss of the Cojo.

There are therefore nearly 2.8 million tickets left for the general public, sesames that sports fans may be able to try to obtain during a new phase of sales envisaged. ” this summer “, said Tony Estanguet. It is therefore earlier than expected: initially, this third phase was to open in the fall.

According The world, places sold on a first-come first-served basis will be put on sale in particular for football, golf, sailing and basketball. For the latter sport, it will only be the part of the tournament organized in Lille.

Date for Paralympic Games places known

For football, it is at this time that the tickets for the group matches of Les Bleues and Les Bleus will be sold.

This Tuesday, new details were also given on the ticket office for the Paralympic Games. It will officially open on October 9, still on Tickets.paris2024.org. About 2.8 million places will be offered, without drawing lots. Prices will range from 15 to 100 euros, with half of the tickets at 25 euros or less, including 500,000 at 15 euros, for all sports.

Asked about the wave of protests that accompanied the first two sales phases, and about the questioning of the idea of ​​Games “popular”Tony Estanguet to dit ” to assume “ the “pricing strategy”.

“The accessibility of “popular” Games is reflected in the volume and ticket prices. We consider that with four million tickets at 50 euros and less, one million at 24 euros but also free events (…) our commitment to Games open to the greatest number (…) is kept”he replied, acknowledging the « frustration » buyers with one million places sold in 36 hours during the 2nd phase.

“Which means that 3 million people (there were 4 million registered for the draw, editor’s note) no longer had the visibility of these places since they were sold out”he added. “We knew from the start that we could not meet the demand which is much greater than the available supply”.

Ticketing revenue should bring in nearly 1.4 billion euros out of an overall budget of 4.4 billion euros for the organizing committee.

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