Olympic Games 2024: Meet Athletes, Access VIP Events in Paris
Wealthy individuals are shelling out up to $500,000 for "ultra-exclusive" packages to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, according to a report published by The Guardian.
These packages include the opportunity to participate in the opening ceremony and meet with athletes, along with access to the athletes' village.
GR8 Experience, an international experience agency co-owned by the business manager of basketball star LeBron James and the public relations manager of tennis player Rafael Nadal, is offering Olympic packages that it claims include tickets to 14 events, such as the men's 100m sprint, the opening ceremony, and the final, for a price tag of $381,600.
Beyond the so-called Category A tickets, the agency promises to arrange "once-in-a-lifetime experiences" that include encounters with athletes, private tours of restricted areas like the athletes' village, exclusive after-hours access to the Louvre Museum, and a gala dinner at the Palace of Versailles.
Barnabas Carrega, CEO of GR8 Experience, informed The Guardian that his agency provides high-net-worth individuals with "unparalleled access, including time spent with athletes."
While declining to reveal the identities of athletes secured for these experiences, Carrega mentioned organising previous private events with Nadal and his fellow tennis player Novak Djokovic, as well as former Italian Olympic skier Giorgio Rocca.
"For the Olympics, we have secured a few tennis players, along with athletes from other sports. However, I cannot disclose their names," he said.
When questioned about the cost of these meetings, Carrega explained that it would "depend on the format of the encounter." The price, he elaborated, ranges from $25,000 to a staggering $500,000 "for top athletes who dedicate significant time."
This translates to the opportunity for package buyers to spend 15 minutes with athletes for photographs and brief conversations, or, for a hefty sum, to enjoy a luncheon in their company.
Carrega acknowledges, however, that some athletes may not deliver the experience clients seek.
"While some highly renowned athletes might not possess the charisma that clients desire, others offer a genuine experience. They must appear enthusiastic about their participation, and not simply deliver a cursory greeting before their eagerness to depart becomes apparent within minutes," he said.
A total of 10 million tickets will be made available for the Games. The most expensive ticket, priced at €2,700, grants access to the opening ceremony. Conversely, the most affordable tickets are priced at €24 and are available for a limited selection of events, including football, rugby, shooting, and golf. The price range for most tickets falls between €50 and €200.
The 33rd Summer Olympic Games will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11, 2024. This year's edition will see the participation of 10,500 athletes competing across 32 sports.
Six athletes from the Republic of Moldova have qualified for the Paris Olympics: Anastasia Nichita, Irina Rîngaci, Maria Olarașu, Daniela Cociu, Dan Olaru, and Serghei Tarnovschi.
This marks the third time that the French capital will play host to one of the most prestigious events in the global sporting arena. Paris previously hosted the Games in 1900 and 1924.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
