Perfect timing. The COJO Paris 2024 transformed the Place de la République, in the heart of the French capital, into a huge para sports field and invited Emmanuel Macron to get wet on Sunday October 8. This Monday morning, at 10 a.m. sharp, the organizing committee opens its ticket sales platform for the Paralympic Games (August 28 to September 8, 2024).
Presented by the COJO as the “ return match ", the Paralympic event aims to be ambitious. In terms of popular success – “ We want to fill the stadiums”, insists Tony Estanguet – but not only that. The Parisian organizers go so far as to predict a before and after Paris 2024, in French society, on the question of inclusion and the place of disability. “ In one Paralympic day, we may do more than 30 years of public policy.”, suggested Michaël Aloïsio, the deputy general director of the COJO, during a recent press briefing.
Sunday October 8, Emmanuel Macron relayed the message. The Head of State tried his hand at para table tennis and wheelchair basketball (photo above), before launching Paralympic ticketing like a juggernaut. “ I really want to encourage all our compatriots to buy ticketshe said. Tomorrow the ticket office opens, it’s going to be some great sporting moments. These Paralympic Games will allow us to see very great athletes and great competitions. Half of these tickets are less than 24 euros, all tickets are less than 100 euros, so it's a great opportunity to discover these sports. »
No doubt: Emmanuel Macron retained the right figures. Unlike the Olympic Games, where the price of tickets created controversy, the opening of the sales platform should not hold any unpleasant surprises. In total, it offers 2,8 million places. In the lot, 500.000 display a price of 15 euros, half are 25 euros or less, 80% do not exceed 50 euros. For sports competitions, the ceiling has been set at 100 euros per place. For the opening ceremony, organized in the heart of Paris, Place de la Concorde, you will have to pay between 150 and 700 euros.
As for the Olympic Games, the State has already purchased its share of places. No less than 300.000 tickets (he acquired 100.000 for the Olympic events), a large part of which will be distributed to schools. In total, the “ stakeholders » (State, communities, sports movement, partners, etc.) had a quota of 500.000 places. The pre-reservation phase is now complete. “ It was a huge success, we will undoubtedly go beyond the initial allocation”, explains the COJO.
Unlike Olympic ticketing, where the multi-tiered procedure has discouraged many, tickets for the Paralympic Games are sold without a draw or successive phases. The platform works on the principle of “ first come, first served. » This Monday, October 9, Paris 2024 is putting tickets on sale for all sports and all sessions, including ceremonies. Clarification: a quota of 30 tickets is set for each buyer, with a maximum of 10 places per session (4 for the ceremonies).
New: the launch of so-called discovery passes. For the single price of 24 euros, it will be possible to attend several sessions in two geographical areas: Paris center (3 to 7 sessions) for blind football, archery, taekwondo, wheelchair rugby, judo and fencing; and Paris Sud (6 or 7 sessions) for boccia, goalball and table tennis at Porte de Versailles.
Another new feature: a family formula. Two tickets purchased will give the right to obtain two others for 10 euros, for children aged 12 or under.
Finally, the COJO has innovated for its hospitality offering, with two distinct formulas. The first, classic, is aimed at businesses. In addition to competitions, it offers access to shared lounges. Price: 250 to 425 euros for sporting events. The second, more family-friendly, will allow you to obtain in addition places for the events a “ fan kit » consisting of a snack, a drink and goodies. Price: 125 to 175 euros.
A downside: the places reserved on the sites for people with disabilities. Their volume turns out to be very low, even insignificant: 80.000 for the entire Paralympic Games, all sites combined. Among them, only 12.000 seats for spectators in wheelchairs and the same number for their companions.
