Paris 2024 ticket holders are set to have the opportunity to make a charitable donation of €2 ©Getty Images

Paris 2024 organisers have launched an initiative inviting ticket holders to donate €2 (£1.75/$2.20) towards helping people in low-income households to attend the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The scheme is being run in conjunction with the charity Secours Populaire, which aims to fight poverty and discrimination.

Optional donations would go to Secours Populaire, and be used to purchase tickets and travel for beneficiaries.

French entrepreneur and Paris 2024 Board member Alexandre Mars helped to create the initiative and claimed "it has never been done before on such a big scale".

Paris 2024 Tony Estanguet argued that the charitable scheme tied in with the "Games Wide Open" motto.

"We want as many people as possible to be able to experience the Games and to feel the emotions and sense of togetherness that they bring," he said.

"To achieve this goal, Paris 2024 has launched a number of initiatives to enable people living in low-income households, who are often excluded from major sports events, to attend the Paris 2024 Games in person.

"This charitable ticketing scheme, which we have created in partnership with entrepreneur Alexandre Mars and the French charity Secours Populaire, will help us to provide Games Wide Open by giving the whole public the chance to play a part in this great show of solidarity."

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet claimed the initiative would
Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet claimed the initiative would "help us to provide Games Wide Open" ©Getty Images

The ticket sales process for the Paris 2024 Olympics is underway, with those interested having until January 31 to register for a ballot.

Those successful are then due to be allocated a 48-hour window between February 13 and March 15 to secure their tickets.

Paralympic Games tickets are set to go on sale later this year.

Approximately 10 million tickets are available for next year's Olympics, starting at €24 (£21/$26).

Hospitality tickets launched on a separate platform earlier this month.

Premium seats for the Opening Ceremony are expected to cost up to €25,000 (£22,000/$27,300) when they go on sale.

Next year's Olympics are set to mark a return of spectators after Tokyo 2020 was almost entirely held behind closed doors ©Getty Images
Next year's Olympics are set to mark a return of spectators after Tokyo 2020 was almost entirely held behind closed doors ©Getty Images

Other initiatives aimed at increasing the accessibility of the Games include the direct funding of 100,000 tickets for disadvantaged members of society, and granting local authorities the opportunity to acquire one million tickets to support Paris 2024-associated social projects.

Secours Populaire has previously helped raise funds to enable children to attend Barcelona 1992, Beijing 2008 and London 2012, and the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville.

Its national secretary Thierry Robert said the charity "is delighted to benefit from the charitable ticketing scheme initiative".

The Paris 2024 Olympics are scheduled for July 26 to August 11 next year, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.

Paris 2024 is set to make a return of mass crowds to the Games, after Tokyo 2020 was largely held behind closed doors because of the COVID-19 pandemic.