The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is facing an antitrust complaint filed with the European Union’s competition regulators by German online ticket marketplace Ticombo.
The complaint alleges that the IOC’s ticketing policies, which restrict ticket resale to its own exclusive platform, are anticompetitive and detrimental to consumer choice.
Ticombo contends that the IOC maintains an exclusive monopoly over the resale of tickets for major sporting events, including the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The company argues that by prohibiting independent resale platforms, the IOC is limiting competition and restricting access to the secondary ticketing market, Reuters reported
“By restricting independent resale platforms, the IOC not only limits consumer choice but also undermines the natural balance of the market,” Ticombo stated. The company further criticized the IOC’s resale system, which requires tickets to be resold exclusively through its official platform under strict conditions. These conditions mandate that tickets be sold at face value plus a platform fee, even in cases where demand is low, thereby preventing market-driven pricing adjustments.
The complaint is part of a broader trend in which companies and athletes have increasingly turned to the European Commission with concerns about the power wielded by sports-governing bodies. In recent years, allegations of dominance abuse have become more frequent, with claimants asserting that such practices violate EU competition law.
This case is expected to add to the ongoing scrutiny of the IOC’s commercial practices, particularly in relation to ticket sales and distribution. If the European Commission decides to investigate the complaint, it could lead to changes in the regulatory framework governing ticketing practices for major sporting events within the EU. The outcome of this challenge may have broader implications for the sports industry, potentially setting a precedent for how ticketing policies are structured and enforced in the future.
