On the eve of the opening of the ticket office for the Paralympic Games (August 28-September 8), “I really want to encourage all our compatriots to buy tickets”, launched the President of the Republic after a small crowd at the Place de the Republic. He had previously played a few minutes of wheelchair basketball, with the president of the organizing committee Tony Estanguet, and the president of the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons. Then exchanged a few ping-pong balls with athlete Lucas Créange.
He also gave a symbolic invitation card to some of the first French selections, Ugo Didier (para-swimming), Manon Genest (para-athletics), Arnaud Assoumani and Charlotte-Antoine Kouakou (para-athletics). “Tomorrow the ticket office opens and it’s going to be some great sporting moments. These Paralympic Games will allow us to see very great athletes, major competitions, you have more than 300 athletes who will be there,” the President of the Republic further praised.
2.8 million tickets will be on sale from Monday on a “first come, first served” basis for prices of 15 to 100 euros, excluding the opening and closing ceremonies. “Half of these tickets are less than 24 euros, all the tickets are less than 100 euros, so it’s a great opportunity to discover these sports,” he added.
The ticket office for the Olympic Games, initially opened by two draws, had generated frustration with prices considered prohibitive by some. The Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, recalled for her part that “300,000 tickets” for the Paralympic Games would be distributed “to schools”.
The State purchased 400,000 tickets, 100,000 for the Olympics and 300,000 for the Paralympic Games, which will partly take place after the start of the school year. “We have a lot of ambitions for these Paralympic Games,” summarized Tony Estanguet, head of the organizing committee during this Paralympic day where numerous parasport demonstrations were held.
