The president of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, has expressed his concern over the high ticket prices for the athletics events at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He said that the prices could deter fans from attending the events and affect the atmosphere of the Games.
Coe’s statement
Coe made his statement after the Paris 2024 organising committee announced that the tickets for the athletics events would range from €30 to €990, with the average price being €250. Coe said that he was “surprised” by the prices and that he would “talk to the organisers” about them.
He said that he understood the need to generate revenue from the ticket sales, but he also wanted to ensure that the events were “accessible and affordable” for the fans. He said that he wanted to see “full stadiums” and “a great atmosphere” at the Olympics, which he said was “part of the magic of the Games”.
He also said that he was worried about the impact of the high prices on the young and diverse audience that he wanted to attract to the sport of athletics. He said that he wanted to “inspire the next generation” of athletes and fans, and that he hoped that the organisers would “find a way to balance the books and the accessibility”.
Paris 2024’s response
The Paris 2024 organising committee defended its pricing strategy, saying that it was “fair and transparent” and that it reflected the “quality and diversity” of the events. It said that the prices were based on “a detailed market study” and that they were comparable to those of previous Olympics.
It also said that it would offer “a large number of affordable tickets” for the general public, especially for young people, students, and low-income groups. It said that it would allocate “at least 25%” of the tickets to these categories, and that it would also provide “free or discounted tickets” to schools and associations.
It said that it was committed to making the Olympics “a popular and inclusive event” and that it would “work closely with World Athletics and the other international federations” to ensure that the ticket prices were “in line with their expectations and objectives”.
The challenges of hosting the Olympics
The Paris 2024 Olympics are expected to be the “most expensive Games ever”, with a budget of €6.8 billion. The organisers have faced several challenges in hosting the event, such as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the environmental concerns, and the security issues.
The organisers have also faced criticism for some of their decisions, such as the controversial choice of the Place de la Concorde as the venue for the urban sports, the inclusion of breakdancing as a new sport, and the proposal to hold some events outside France, such as surfing in Tahiti.
However, the organisers have also received praise for some of their innovations, such as the use of recycled materials for the medals, the creation of a carbon-neutral Olympic village, and the involvement of the public in the design of the logo and the mascot.
The Paris 2024 Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024, with the athletics events starting on August 2 and ending on August 10.
