Even babies will have to pay at the Olympics

While the Olympics have not even started yet, yet another scandal has erupted. The reason? The committee recently announced that even infants will have to pay full price to attend the Olympic Games. A wave of outrage has emerged, highlighting the financial and logistical implications for families. The initial announcement of this policy was met with surprise and incomprehension by many parents and observers. Indeed, traditionally, young children do not pay to attend such events, leading to questions about the reasons behind this new rule. Organizers have justified this measure by citing security and venue capacity considerations.

According to Olympic officials, the need to allocate a ticket to each person present at the site is essential to ensure precise control of the number of spectators. Additionally, this would help better manage visitor flows, ensure venue security, and meet international standards for hosting the public. The organizing committee spoke out in a statement relayed by AFP: «In general, Paris 2024 advises against parents bringing children under the age of 4 to competition venues. Paris 2024 encourages everyone to consider the particular environment of sports venues, which are not well suited to the well-being of young children.»

However, many parents and families question this explanation, arguing that it imposes a significant additional financial burden. Buying a ticket for an infant who will not fully enjoy the event seems unfair to many, especially in a context where costs related to the Olympic Games are already high. Some parents bought their tickets last year and have since had a child. They are now required to buy a ticket for their newborn or risk being denied entry. Petitions have been launched to call on organizers to reconsider this measure. It remains to be seen if they will succumb to social pressure and reverse their decision. Meanwhile, it would not be surprising if we witness another controversy surrounding the Olympics...