French government to distribute $16 million in free tickets for Paris Olympics

Over the last month, the 2024 Paris Olympic organizing committee has been under fire around the cost of tickets for next year’s Olympic Games. To address the issue, French President Emmanuel Macron and French Olympic and Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra announced on April 5 that the government will spend an estimated $16 million to distribute 400,000 free tickets to make the events more accessible.

🚀 Suite de la Semaine Olympique et Paralympique à l'@AssembleeNat avec @YaelBRAUNPIVET et les athlètes de l'équipe de France des #30minutesAPQ !
Au programme : démonstrations 🥊🥋🤸‍♀️ de nos sportifs et battle de hip-hop entre deux lycées d'@iledefrance ! pic.twitter.com/SCDexU5agV

— Amélie Oudéa-Castéra (@AOC1978) April 5, 2023

The tickets will be distributed through Une Billetterie Populaire–the People’s Ticket Office, which will give them to youth and volunteers who contribute to the Games. “The objective is to facilitate access to sports for people who cannot afford to buy tickets and reward volunteers for the free time they give to the community,” says Macron. “Sport goes on, thanks to them.”

Last month, Belgium’s two-time Olympic heptathlon champion Nafissatou Thiam spoke out on the shocking cost of tickets, admitting that her family might not be able to support her due to the high prices.

According to the French newspaper Le Monde, 260,000 tickets are expected to go to primary, secondary and high school students. “The objective is to promote the spectacular events at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games with an educational scope,” said Oudéa-Castéra.

Tickets were reportedly sold for over 100 euros each when the first batch was released in February. The government hopes this distribution strategy will also help regulate the price of second-hand tickets.

The 2024 Paris Olympics will begin on Aug. 2, 2024.