Do you have a Mastercard bank card? Bad news, you will not be able to pay with your card on the sites and in the official stores of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The only alternative: cash.
We know that the Olympic Games are not, far from it, just about sports, but also about big money. Thus, under a commercial partnership agreement between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Visa acceptance network, only cards placed by the latter will be accepted on the sites of the Paris 2024 Games. This is already the case in the official event store, opened last November at Les Halles Paris.
No need, therefore, to bring your Mastercard to attend the tests, to get supplies or buy a souvenir: it will not be accepted!
Bank card: bad news if you have a Mastercard, only Visa will be accepted at the 2024 Olympics
ATMs expected on all sites
This situation attracted the attention of the National Committee for Means of Payment, the body which, within the Banque de France, manages the French strategy in terms of means of payment. In a recent press release, the CNMP called on players in the French payments market to take action particular attention to the issues of resilience and acceptability of payment methodswhich will be particularly critical during the Games period.
Does this statement from the CNMP constitute criticism of the IOC’s choice to ban Mastercard from the Games? We asked the question to the Bank of France. In its response, the institution particularly highlights the importance of offering spectators who do not have a Visa card alternatives. One in particular: the species. Concerning the Olympic sites themselves, beyond the question of the existing partnership, it is important that the organizers ensure that they offer solutions adapted to all visitors, which includes in particular the provision of ATM And acceptance of cash at all Olympic venues.
Mandatory acceptance of cash
The CNMP’s remark is also addressed to traders. (…) Faced with the influx of visitors, particularly foreign visitors, it is important that [ces derniers] particularly those close to the sites – are preparing to meet the needs of this clientele, particularly in terms of accepting solutions a little more exotic than those usually seen (for example: Asian payment cards, mobile wallets, etc.) at risk otherwise to miss certain business opportunities brought by the Games, details the Bank of France. It is also about ensuring that good compliance with the mandatory acceptance of cash in a context where flows are likely to be greater (and therefore know how to manage the associated security and logistics needs).
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