THE OLYMPICS AT ALL COSTS – For nothing in the world they would have missed Paris 2024. In this series, those who intend to be part of the party confide in Figaro their battle plan, between hefty bills and system D. In Marseille, a family let themselves be carried away by the excitement of the event.
“It’s a hell of a budget, but you only see that once in your life…” Sabrina, 46, a consultant in the health field, still can’t believe what she had to spend to treat herself to a little piece of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as a family, with her husband and her daughters. 15 and 18 years old. There are places for the tests of course, but also hotel nights, transport and all related expenses. In all, almost 8,000 euros for a weekend for four in Lille, two events in Paris and one in Marseille. “The prices are astronomical. Clearly, these are not Olympic Games accessible to everyone…”
However, the Marseille family had no hesitation when registration for the draw for the first sale of tickets, sold in packs, opened at the end of 2022. “We did the same for Euro 2016 and we were able to get places”, Sabrina remembers. She and her husband both registered to increase their chances, with success. They set their sights on two basketball games in Lille at the end of July, without even knowing, at the time, which teams would play before their eyes.
Train, hotel, meals… Cascading expenses
Just for the places, 4000 euros were spent. To which it was necessary to add the return train tickets from Marseille: 560 euros, even if the mother had anticipated by booking “as soon as SNCF sent the alert for the opening of sales”. And then the hotel: 700 euros for two nights. The family will take the opportunity to visit Lille, which the girls don’t know, the day after the matches, before leaving. “Obviously, there will be meals to pay for too.”
The experience is not cheap, admits Sabrina, but the excitement of experiencing these Olympics at home to the fullest won out… To the point that she gave herself an extension to please her husband, a basketball fan. . “He’s a chartered accountant, and he gets up at 3 a.m. to watch NBA games, even during tax season!” So when she found out that the American team, in which her husband’s favorite player – Stephen Curry – played – was playing the day after their two matches in Lille, she did everything to find him a place. He will go alone while Sabrina and their daughters wander around town, but they will have to add a hotel night for everyone and postpone the train tickets.
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Budgetary arbitrations
The Marseillais had also fallen for events in Paris – around 2000 euros – which they intend to put back on sale on the official ticket sales platform. Instead, Sabrina took the opportunity to give her husband another surprise: she managed to find him, in April, places for the basketball semi-finals in Paris. “I had blocked the slot for the day of the sale so as not to miss them!” They will go with friends and try to stay with family or acquaintances in the Paris region. “because the price of hotels is not at all reasonable”. Finally, they offered themselves three tickets for 80 euros for a football match at the Vélodrome, at home.
If the family is carried away by the excitement of the event and has the means, the Olympics nonetheless remain a financial effort. “We will necessarily have to make trade-offs with other expenses”, breathes Sabrina, who is thinking about the summer vacation budget or other outings that we will have to give up on. But no regrets: “The last time the Olympics were in France was in 1924, so we couldn’t really miss this unique opportunity to be part of them.” The family can’t wait to get into the spirit. “We will also try to see the arrival of the flame in Marseille [ce mercredi 8 mai, NDLR]. That, at least, won’t cost anything!”
