


Getting to the Olympics equestrian arena at Versailles — a multihour metro, train and bus extravaganza culminating in a mile-long trek down a dusty thoroughfare — is so arduous and enervating that it almost qualifies as an athletic achievement in itself.
But there’s another way. It’s called the Golden Garden Hospitality Experience, and it begins with door-to-door taxi service and a queue-free entrance. It includes Champagne, a welcome gift, canapés and a gourmet meal in a special clubhouse; a flotilla of staff, including a sommelier and a mixologist, eager to cater to your whims; premium seats in the stadium; and a ride home when it’s all over. The price? From $1,620 to $3,500, depending on the day.
Go to any big sports event and you will find people having more rarefied experiences than you. The Summer Games in particular have long been known for the extravagant perks they dole out to dignitaries, corporate sponsors and other constituents of the Olympic-industrial complex.
Such benefits used to be out of reach for most Olympics ticket holders. While third-party vendors have always offered luxury ticket packages, the deals came with some uncertainty because the sellers weren’t sanctioned by the Olympics. But under a new program, the Paris Games are offering regular spectators the chance to buy add-ons that offer tangible extras — better seats, extra food, special places to hang out — as well as that most elusive of privileges: the luxury of attending a mass event while remaining apart from the masses.
At the low end, 100 euros or so might get you a package for a few hours in a venue’s hospitality lounge and a ticket to a low-demand sport like archery. The higher end can run well into the tens of thousands of euros: bespoke multiday all-inclusive packages that might include stays in five-star hotels, meals cooked by Michelin-starred chefs, seamless car service between venues and the best seats at the most in-demand events.
“Anyone can buy these packages to make their experience memorable,” said Will Whiston, executive vice president of the Olympics and Paralympics for On Location, a luxury hospitality company that specializes in live events and is the Games’ official hospitality provider. “Our goal is to create different levels to meet different types of demand.”