15.3 million visitors. That’s what Paris has been preparing for with the Olympics. But is it possible that they overestimated the numbers? Well, not entirely, but it seems the 2024 Paris Olympics didn’t generate as much interest as one would think.

The opening ceremony is on July 26 and yet there are half a million tickets are still available, as reported by DailyMail. The organizers have confirmed that about 500,000 to 600,000 tickets are still available. And this includes the men’s and women’s 100m finals, where notable names like Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles will compete. 

What’s interesting about this is that the tickets are in fact cheaper than London 12. Notably, the Olympic 100m men’s final ticket costs $1,059, whereas in the women’s category, it is $751. Did the star power and USA-Jamaica rivalry storyline not work this time?

Remember the 2012 London Olympics? Usain Bolt accomplished nearly everything he had wished for on the track. His stellar performance added a new layer to the US-Jamaican rivalry. In the Jamaican camp, Bolt was paired with Yohan Blake, while the American camp featured strong competitors like Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay. In the women’s category, the competition was between Carmelita Jeter and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Twelve years later, the fight remains intense. In the 100m, Noah Lyles will have to lock horns with Kishane Thompson from Jamaica.

In the women’s category, the battle is between Sha’Carri Richardson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Shericka Jackson. Notably, the 100m event will be Shelly-Ann’s final race in her professional career. Despite these intriguing narratives, the 100m track events have not managed to attract a full house.

Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet isn’t too concerned about the tickets though. According to him, “In total at the beginning, we had 10 million tickets but we took 20 percent of the total numbers in contingency.”

“We will remain prudent, and between now and six months ago, we released new ticket opportunities … That’s why there are still tickets available one week before, because now we have the final plan of the delivery. We are now at 8.8 million tickets sold and we still have 500,000 to 600,000 tickets available.”

Additionally, most of the unsold tickets are for the football games. Sports like cycling, rowing, and swimming seem to have comparatively low demand.

2024 Paris Olympics: Economic picture shows some unavoidable circumstances 

Since the 2012 London Olympics, only the Rio Olympics have provided cheap tickets to the audience. The reason behind this has nothing to do with star power, but rather the country’s economic situation.

“The value of the host country’s currency significantly impacts the affordability of the Olympics for international visitors. For instance, during the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Brazilian real was relatively weak against both the euro and the U.S. dollar, making it more affordable for visitors,” said Sean Fitzpatrick, who belongs to the hospitality field. His company tracks data for the travel and hospitality industry.

In this scenario, the role of the Euro and USD comes into play. Currently, both currencies are standing side by side. However, market inflation has raised prices in the entertainment and hospitality sectors.

Consequently, the 100m final ticket prices feel higher, compounded by the inflationary rate. As a result, ticket sales have not reached previous levels. This trend extends to other high-demand events like swimming. Therefore, Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson have little influence over the current situation.

But things don’t end here. Overall, transportation costs have increased in Paris. Metro costs have nearly doubled. From the initial €2.15 ($2.34), a single ticket has risen to €4 ($4.36). As per DailyMail, this will be in place until September. Talking about this, Estanguet said, “The reason behind this price was because we had to reinforce the transport plan during the Games by 15 percent more than is usual for this time of year.”

But this is not were their issues end. Reports also suggest that ordinary workers aren’t getting the profits. As reported by DailyMail, the Paris Olympics has recruited as many as 3000 dancers, acrobats and actors. Unfortunately, they will be working for low wages or even for free. As a result, unions representing them aren’t happy about the conditions.

Only time will tell how the 2024 Paris Olympics turns out to be. What do you think?