The world’s biggest sporting event is coming to Paris. Not everyone’s happy
The date is set, venues have been chosen, tickets are on sale.
One hundred years after the Olympics last graced the streets of Paris, the city is braced for the return of the world’s largest sporting event next summer.
While organizers and the French government claim that it’ll be the most inclusive games yet, a growing chorus of voices isn’t convinced.
Accessibility is a main concern, both financially due to the eye-watering cost of tickets, and for disabled people who worry about navigating Paris’ decades-old transport infrastructure.
Flavien Lallemand had barely made it on the Paris 2024 ticketing site, before deciding it wasn’t worth it.
“Crazy, it was just crazy,” the 23-year-old developer told CNN of the price of the available tickets.
“It’s a shame, it’s being done in our city, it’s just next door, we’ll be bothered by all the visitors etc; we’ll be impacted but we won’t have the positive sides,” he said, adding that he’ll likely end up watching the games on TV at home.
Many French people have taken to social media to protest the cost of tickets, complaining that those available are were well beyond average budgets.
It’s an embarrassing distraction for the games organizers, who have trumpeted the events accessibility credentials.
“Paris 2024 will be the first Games to focus on solidarity and inclusivity,” boasts their official site.
The cheapest tickets for the main games were put on sale from 24 euros ($26), with Paralympic tickets sold from 15 euros ($16). However, these tickets were limited in number and often were for tournaments like basketball or soccer taking place in other French cities. By the time many sports fans were able to purchase tickets, more affordable options were often scarce.
The date is set, venues have been chosen, tickets are on sale. One hundred years after the Olympics last graced the streets of Paris, the city is braced for the return of the world’s largest sporting event next summer. While organizers and the French government claim that it’ll be the most inclusive games yet, a growing chorus of…