TEMPLATE – FRANCE98 – Press Release

Byfrance98

Paris, 24 November 1997

The French Organising Committee has selected its “Authorised Tour Operators”

for tickets sales outside France

Marketing tickets for the coming FIFA World Cup outside France has now moved into an active phase. All in all, one ticket in three will be going on sale to people living outside France.

In accordance with World Cup regulations, the majority of these tickets have been set aside for the various FIFA national football federations throughout the world. These national federations will be selling the tickets within their respective countries as from the beginning of next year, in accordance with quotas and regulations laid down by FIFA.

As well as that distribution network, 17 “Authorised Tour Operators” will also be entrusted with World Cup ticket sales outside France, as is usual with this kind of large-scale event. A list of those selected by the French Organising Committee has just been made public.

As was announced several months ago, the French Organising Committee carried out its selection on the basis of the FIFA continental confederation zones, and with a previously determined quota for each: 5 for the UEFA zone (Europe), 3 for the CAF zone (Africa), 3 for the CONMEBOL zone (South America), 3 for the AFC/OFC zone (Asia/Oceania), and 3 for the CONCACAF zone (North and Central America and the Caribbean).

The large number of applications that reached the CFO last August were submitted to a highly stringent selection process. Each Tour Operator could apply for one or more zones, and no exclusive rights were to be granted. A solid financial status, effective methods and sales networks, experience, and the application for the purchase of a licence were of particular importance in the selection process, whose procedure was submitted to the European Commission for inspection. The French Organising Committee also paid particular attention to World Cup security considerations.

Each of the 17 “Authorised Tour Operators” chosen has the right to sell tickets throughout the world, either directly or through its agents, in accordance with the terms of its contract with the French Organising Committee. However, it may only sell tickets for matches featuring national teams from the zone or zones for which the Tour Operator has been selected. The final group draw taking place at Marseille this coming 4 December will make known the match details for the first round of the competition.

Tickets for the second round of the competition, for which the qualifying teams are obviously not known in advance, will be offered to “Authorised Tour Operators ” only for the venues at which teams from their zone would be playing should they qualify for the second round.

“Authorised Tour Operators” will market these tickets as a package deal, with transport, accommodation, etc. included accordingly. They have the right to advertise all over the world using the FRANCE 98 logo.

MONDIRESA, the Football World Cup hotel and travel reservation centre set up by the French Organising Committee with the backing of the ACCOR Group, has already created a special department for assisting “Authorised Tour Operators” in their search for appropriate services (rooms, transfers, etc.) in France.

The “Authorised Tour Operators”, by zone, are as follows:

UEFA zone

(Europe: 15 national teams qualified for the World Cup) :

  • Gullivers Sports Travel

  • Mike Burton Sports Travel

  • Pauwels Travel Bureau

  • PrimeSport International

  • Voss + Votava Sportreisen

CONCACAF zone

(North America, Central America and the Caribbean: 5 national teams qualified for the World Cup) :

  • Gullivers Sports Travel

  • Omvesa

  • Rail Europe Group

CONMEBOL zone

(South America: 5 national teams qualified for the World Cup) :

  • Omvesa

  • PrimeSport International

  • Stella Barros Turismo

CAF zone

(Africa: 5 national teams qualified for the World Cup) :

  • PrimeSport International

  • Sportsworld Fli Afrika

  • Wagonlit Sports Travel

AFC/OFC zone

(Asia and Oceania: 4 national teams qualified for the World Cup) :

  • JT Travel

  • Ken Air Tours

  • PrimeSport International

A list of these “Authorised Tour Operators”, as well as their agents in different countries (travel agencies, etc.), can be found on the FRANCE 98 Website (www.france98.com). The list can also be obtained at any “Maison de la France” office anywhere in the world, or from the French Organising Committee, either by fax (33) 1 44 14 18 00, or by mail at the following address:

FRANCE 98 – (TOA)

BP 1998

F – 75201 Paris Cedex 16

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