With around 15 million visitors expected to visit France for the Olympics this summer, the European Consumer Centres Network provides useful information for both those attending the sporting festival and those heading to the country for a regular holiday.
The 2024 Olympic Games will take place in Paris from 26 July to 11 August 2024 and the Paralympic Games from 28 August to 8 September 2024.

Tickets – official channel only

Tickets for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are sold by one official website only: https://tickets.paris2024.org/ All ticket applications have been drawn by lottery according to strict rules.
Any ticket offers outside this site should be checked well, as there is a high probability that they may be fraudulent. Remember that reselling is only allowed on the official platform where ticket holders gained access in mid-May 2024.

Shopping

When shopping in France, you can rely on a very similar level of protection as when shopping in the Czech Republic, thanks to the European Consumer Rights Directive. The seller is obliged to provide you with a proof of purchase upon request. Remember that almost all shops are closed on Sundays during the summer.

Transport

Transport will inevitably be more difficult due to delays and special regulations. From 26 July to 11 August, French roads will be very busy due to increased security measures and the expected 15 million visitors to the Games, and average travel times, especially in and around Paris, will double or even triple. In Paris itself, three colour-coded zones will be created for the entry of different types of vehicles, and we recommend that you familiarise yourself with them.

Accommodation

If you decide to book through an online platform or an advertising site, keep in mind that they are only intermediaries and are not, in principle, responsible for any problems related to the accommodation. If the room does not match the advertised description (e.g. it overlooks a construction site instead of the Eiffel Tower, it does not have the advertised amenities or it smells), take photos of the discrepancies and ask the accommodation provider for a solution (repair of the broken appliance, cleaning, etc.). You can then possibly contact the mediation platform. If the dispute persists, the European Consumer Centre may be able to help (contact details below this article).
The star rating system for hotels varies from country to country. A three-star hotel in France may not meet the same criteria as a three-star hotel in Italy, Spain, Germany, etc. Atout France, the tourism development agency, determines the number of stars according to four categories: the level of facilities, customer service quality, best environmental practices and catering practices for guests with disabilities.

We wish all visitors to France a summer without consumer difficulties.

This text was published in the dTest magazine 06/2024.