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The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are just around the corner and it’ll be such a waste to skip if you have the time and budget. The event will kick off with the opening ceremony on July 26 and wrap up on August 11.

The event lineup for the 2024 Olympics is impressive, featuring over 750 sessions across 32 sports. With some sports further categorized, the agenda totals 48 disciplines. 

Breakdancing makes its debut this year, while BMX, climbing, surfing, and skateboarding retain their spots. However, baseball and karate are notably absent from the roster. Wondering what kind of betting market will they have? There’s a guide to help you with that.

However, based on what I’ve read so far, planning a trip to the Olympics, is a significant endeavor. One of the most significant shifts this year is the move to online-only ticket sales. 

Nearly 10 million event tickets were prepared, including over 3 million for the Paralympics. All tickets are sold through a single authorized site. While Visa stands as the Official Way to Pay, the site also accepts various payment methods like credit and debit cards, bank cards, MasterCard, JCB cards, and UnionPay.

The ticket fares for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been a hot topic. Organizers have defended the pricing strategy, emphasizing the need to balance the event’s budget. Despite some tickets being available for as low as €24 during earlier sales, prices for premium seats, especially for flagship events like gymnastics, have soared into hundreds of euros.

Medal sessions were initially set to be more expensive, ranging from 100 euros to 990 euros for a premium athletics session. Recent backlash revealed that the women’s team gymnastics finals are priced at €690 and mid-round tennis singles at around €130. 

Ticket pricing uproars

Tony Estanguet, head of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, said that while only 5% of tickets exceeded €400, he acknowledged the frustration of those seeking more affordable options. He clarified that several million tickets priced below €50 were quickly sold, and premium prices were in line with those from the 2012 London Olympics.

Great deals are still available for large-crowd competitions like soccer and basketball. Additionally, spots for the Paralympics, scheduled from August 28 to September 8, are still open.

The opening ceremony has seen high demand, with most tickets sold out. Organizers have allocated tickets for athletes’ families and announced several hundred thousand free tickets for the opening ceremony. 

For paying guests, ticket prices will range from €80 to €2,700. However, the remaining tickets, offering a prime view of the Eiffel Tower, are priced at approximately $2,930. A massive shock, I know.

Tickets to popular events like swimming and gymnastics are also currently sold out but available through special hospitality packages. However, the organizers recently announced the release of 250,000 new tickets on April 17, with options available across all sports and price categories. Half of the new tickets would be priced below €100.

The hospitality packages

Tickets to individual events during the Olympic Games are available as stand-alone purchases and can be acquired only through the official Paris 2024 ticketing website. However, the 2024 Olympics in Paris offers various options to suit different budgets and preferences.

If budget is no issue, the hospitality packages offer a seamless way to enjoy the Games with an all-inclusive experience.

Tickets to individual events during the Olympic Games are available as stand-alone purchases. However, the hospitality packages offer more than just tickets. They include access to on-site hospitality venues, travel, accommodation, and other activities.

The hospitality packages range from standard to customized options. For instance, you can opt for a basic package starting at €695, which includes tickets to men’s springboard diving. Alternatively, you can indulge in a luxury five-day package at the Waldorf Astoria in Versailles for €21,105, covering the opening ceremony and equestrian events.

Hunting for accommodation

On top of having to learn some basic phrases in French, you might also start considering your options for transport and accommodation if you’re not taking the hospitality package. 

Consider booking flights early as airfares are expected to rise closer to the event. If you’re traveling on a budget, explore discount carriers or alternative airports in neighboring countries.

When you arrive, you might need to start to adapt yourself to the local transport. Aiming to reduce the Games’ carbon footprint, the organizers are prioritizing walking, cycling, and public transportation. The city has expanded its cycling lanes and Velib rental program to accommodate visitors.

Metro prices have increased to €4 per ride, but tourists can opt for a Paris 2024 pass at €16 a day or €70 per week. 

Staying in Paris would be a battlefield for expenses with just around 85,000 guest rooms. Expect hotel and rental prices to surge due to high demand. And let’s pray that they have solved the bedbug issue, otherwise the availability level will go even further down.

Hotels and Airbnb listings have doubled or even quintupled their rates, with average prices exceeding €500 a night. However, more affordable options averaging €450 to €550 can be found on the outskirts of Paris. 

That being said, whether we’re breaking the actual bank or the piggy bank, some of us will brave the sticker shock for the love of sports.  After all, can you really put a price on witnessing history in the making?