The IFSC has welcomed athletes and guests from its National Federations to the Le Bourget climbing venue as part of its ticketing initiative for Paris 2024.

With Sport Climbing in its second appearance at a summer Olympic Games, but the first with crowds able to attend, the IFSC made tickets available for a National Federation President and an athlete, free of charge, to broaden the Games experience within the climbing community.

The National Federations were able to nominate an athlete who had been part of the Paris 2024 qualification process but was ultimately unsuccessful in gaining a participation slot – climbers such as USA’s Sean Bailey, France’s Manu Cornu, Indonesia’s Aspar Aspar and Ukraine’s Ilchyshyn Hryhorii.

One athlete in particular was eager to attend after just missing out herself – Poland’s Natalia Kalucka. With women’s Speed world record holder Aleksandra Miroslaw already booking her place earlier in the process only one of the Kalucka twins, Natalia and Aleksandra, could make the Games via the Olympic Qualifier Series. Now with the IFSC ticket initiative both can experience the Olympic Games environment.

Talking about having sister Natalia in Paris Aleksandra said: “We have a magical and wonderful connection with each other. It is going to be the first competition since 2019 that I will compete without her. Absolutely I can truly say that without her I would not be here. She is my biggest support.

“One of our pre-competition habits is having a coffee together, so she came to Paris to do it.”

Natalia said: “Honestly, I’m really proud of my sister and I am moved when I imagine her competing in the Olympic Games. I know when I will see her on stage I will cry.

“I am her biggest fan, and I will definitely be the loudest in the crowd when she is competing, but I don’t want to give my sister any more pressure. I only want her to be happy and proud of herself.”

The federation delegates and athletes will be joined by IFSC President Marco Scolaris during the competition, as well as a capacity crowd of over 6000 people as the Sport Climbing was one of the first to be sold out when Paris 2024 tickets went on sale.