Starting this week. I was in Paris in January and thought the preparations and interest levels were pretty low key. Then I felt the same about London and that really picked up as it got closer. Now I’m reading that there are half a million unsold tickets, even for the athletics and including the 100m final session, and that nearly 30% of hotel rooms remain unbooked. I’m sure @daverangers will put me right, but doesn’t seem like the Parisians have bought into this. Still, I’m sure I’ll watch a bit of it.
You are right @sb_73, the Parisians haven't bought into it for a couple of reasons from what I have seen; 1) Paris is really not a big city, a fraction of the size of London. Public transport is already pretty packed, making it a pick-pocketers dream. Add tens of thousands of extra tourists to the equation and it just gets worse. 2) The Parisians are a pretty cynical bunch, so all the propaganda about showcasing Paris...but if that requires extra work, during the time when most Parisians go on holiday, it'll be hard to get them all on board. Most of our Parisian friends are upping and disappearing for the duration of the games. 3) The cost of it caused a lot of anger. In part because they wasted money, approx €1 billion, or just under, to clean the Seine and it is still disgusting, and the PR stunt with the Mayor swimming in there was a bit pathetic. They also banged on about it being a games for the people, and then they released the tickets and they are pretty dear...we 'won' the right to buy tickets for one round of athletics...about two hours...no medals, sat right at the back of the stadium, and for two adults and two kids, and it was near €800. Just not affordable for most, and if you can afford it there are better ways to spend that money. 4) The Paris Olympic symbol looks like a giant red turd; please log in to view this image
Well me and my youngest are excited and going. Booked my hotel near a year ago. Eurostar as soon as it was available. We are going for 5 days....never even saw the tickets we wanted ( sports climbing) but got reasonably priced tickets for taekwando table tennis and volley ball.. Will look for other sessions when we are there...but will do fan parks...see the sights...enjoy the atmosphere.
Sadly the 'Olympic dream' has been tarnished for decades by the excessive greed of the organisation. There may well be some great sporting moments but, as Dave says, the average person is royally priced out. From what I've read recently Paris has tremendous problems of it's own without this event adding to them...
Here is Oz, we have the 2032 Olympics here in BrisVegas. As mentioned, the costs to hosts them are ridiculous, to go and watch them are ridiculous and the cost blowouts and brunt to bear afterwards are a heavy burden. The State govt have already increased the Police camera cars to help raise revenue, along with raising the cost fines. However, we wish the Olympians all the very best, having put in everything to chase their dreams.
Andy Murray says he will retire after (trying to) compete in the Olympics. Given that he hasn’t won many games for years and collapses in agony more often than not when he plays I don’t really understand how he came to be picked to represent Great Britain, unless it was with a sense of cruel irony. Fine to give him a sentimental farewell but surely someone else is better qualified?
Taking my son to see Olympic football at Parc de Princes. Not too fussed who I see but the tickets were reasonable. I got a hotel room right in the centre of Paris for £200 but I got in really early. Same room is now £1100 a night! They held back the Eurostar tickets (during the Olympic period) then released them with massively ramped up prices. And they wonder why people aren’t going.
Hes been a good custodian for the game, so it’s probably a fitting send off. Never quite understand why golf & tennis are allowed in the Olympics but hey, whatever works.
Or football, where they never sell the majority of the tickets. Perhaps no other British tennis players could be bothered to turn up.
Is Murray competing in the summer or winter Olympics? And are they both on at the same time. I've been away and not up-to-date with the Olympics.
Actually, I am in France on holiday glamping and your right, it's full of them. Not much of a buzz about the Olympics. They do have a different way about them I was here since last Saturday when the final was on. Apparently they stopped showing matches after the French were knocked out as the tournament was over in their eyes. However, after dozens of requests they decided to show it on a big screen.
