ORGANISERS have been forced to slash ticket prices for several events at the Olympics.
Empty seats have been noticeable at different sports across the Olympics and chiefs have now taken drastic action to increase attendances.
Ticket prices for athletics, football, basketball and handball have all received a discount – with some tickets available for as little as £12.
It comes after a match in the women’s football between Germany and Austria was attended by just 10,000 people at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome.
That’s despite the stadium having a capacity of 67,000.
Organisers have said part of the reason for the low attendances can be attributed to the arson attacks that wrecked the country’s rail system – leaving fans struggling to get around France.
But there has also been criticism for the initial ticketing system that saw tickets to some events cost several hundred pounds.
Marseille’s deputy sports minister Sebastien Jibrayel appealed to Paris 2024 chiefs to lower prices for future football games at the city’s Stade Velodrome.
Jibrayel told RMC: “We had another match with 8,000 people in a stadium that can hold 67,000. France achieved a real success with a sold-out stadium and after that, we had three matches without exceeding 10,000 people.
“It’s a proposal. I say to Paris 2024: is there not a possibility of reducing the price of tickets in Marseille? Today, it is a bit high.
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“A €60 package for families is not accessible to everyone. When we have an empty stadium, we have to make it a win-win situation and reduce the price of the seats. Between €5 and €10.
“What I want is for the image of France and Marseille to resonate in the most beautiful way. And today, when we have empty stadiums, and not just in Marseille, I think there has to be a proposal.
“Some people want to take part in the Olympic Games, in the party, and are ready to pay a few euros. It would be an opportunity for some to come to the Stade Vélodrome for the first time.
