Phase Three Of Beijing 2008 Domestic Ticket Sales Announced

Beijing 2008 announces that from May 5 to June 9 BOCOG will launch the Phase three Domestic Olympic Ticket Sales Program. During that period the public can buy tickets to the Games at Bank of China ticket outlets or by logging on to the official ticketing website for the Beijing 2008 Games.

As in the past only applications from individual buyers will be accepted during this third phase of the program. Group applications will be considered ineligible. Applicants should use their valid ID cards for registration purposes (further details are available on the official ticketing website). The purchase limit is two sessions per application and three tickets per session.

Tickets sold during this phase will be allocated uniformly on a real-time basis, regardless of the ticket purchase channels used. If the ticket of a certain price range requested by an applicant for a certain Olympic match is marked as available in the system, it will be reserved for the appropriate applicant for a specified period of time. In the event that the applicant fails to make the payment within the specified time limit the ticket will be released to other applicants.

Beijing 2008 says 1.38 million tickets will be released during the third phase, covering 16 Olympic sports, which are subdivided into 17 disciplines and 244 matches.

The ticket design is marked by a distinct theme and a harmonious colour, says Beijing 2008, calling the tickets ideal collectibles of the highest aesthetic values. Taking the “Cloud of Promise” as the cone image, the ticket is designed to be a perfect combination of the traditional Chinese culture and the Olympic spirit. It embodies a consistent adherence to the main themes of the Beijing 2008 Games, “Hi-Tech Olympics, People’s Olympics, Green Olympics”.

Zhu Yan, director of ticketing for the Games, told a news conference that torch protests have had no effect on international ticket sales. He said if anything, the problem is that overseas demand keeps on rising. “The general situation is that Olympic tickets have received an enthusiastic welcome. The main pressure at the moment is that all around the world there is continuing demand to add tickets”.

Zhu promises there would not be a repeat of foul-ups which have marred previous ticket sales. He said, “I have faith that we can satisfy demand for tickets during the third phase. I hope we can provide the best service”.

Meanwhile organizers said Wednesday they were scrambling to find extra tickets to ease a shortage of tickets for parents and family members of some of the athletes, reports AFP.

According to AFP a ticket agent in Beijing who is contracted to supply all Games tickets to one European country said, “there is definitely concern”.

The British swimming team has just 15 tickets to share between officials and the families of 35 swimmers, while the cycling team has even fewer, reports British media. And France’s head swimming coach said earlier this year that his team was faring no better and one of his biggest worries was the lack of tickets for the parents of young swimmers.

Zhu said he was trying to help. He said, “the main pressure at the moment is that we are trying to provide more tickets for (overseas teams). BOCOG is still trying to dig out resources for the tickets so as to satisfy demand worldwide”. Write or read comments about this article

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