Ticket sales for the 2008 Olympics will begin next month, although
bulk buys for the most popular events will be determined by a
random draw, organizers revealed.
Chinese nationals and foreigners living China are already able
to book tickets online directly on the BOCOG official ticketing
website (www.tickets.beijing2008.cn) from Thursday on.
The site contains full details for all ticket prices on the site
with ticket sales set to be staggered over three phases starting
from April 2007.
Opening ceremony tickets set for the evening of August 8, will
range from 200 yuan (US$25.8) to 5,000 yuan (US$646). The closing
ceremony will only be mildly lighter on the wallet with tickets
setting spectators back from 150 yuan(US$19.4) to 3,000 yuan
(US$388).
Competitive event tickets will be in a bracket from 30 to 1,000
yuan (US$3.88 to 129.3), with the men's basketball final to cost
the most.
BOCOG announced last year that over seven million tickets would
go on sale, with at least half being allocated for local fans and
with 58 percent of all tickets costing under 100 yuan (US$12.75) as
efforts are made to ensure average Chinese citizens will be able to
enjoy the Olympics.
(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2007)