Affordable Games

Despite boasting the most expensive event in modern Olympic history with the 5,000 yuan ($636) opening ceremony, the Beijing Games also offers events that are designed to be affordable for ordinary Chinese.

The current program offers a large number of cheap tickets from 30 yuan ($3.5) for qualifying heats/rounds and 60 yuan ($7) for finals.

The prices for the road cycling and sailing events have not yet been decided.

The BOCOG is allocating some 14 percent of the tickets to the Olympic Education Program, in a bid to encourage more young Chinese to get involved. Tickets in this program are 5 yuan ($0.6) for qualifying rounds and 10 yuan ($1.25) for finals.

"All sports fans around the globe can enjoy our low-price ticket scheme. The price is the same for everyone," said Liu Jingmin, BOCOG executive vice-president. "There are no double standards."

An estimated 7-8 million tickets will be available for the 2008 Games, with about 30 percent to be sold overseas.

"Since the Beijing venues have more seats than those in Athens, more tickets will be available," said Rong.

Athens reportedly offered 5.3 million tickets for the 2004 Games.

For the opening ceremony, about 60,000 tickets will be sold to the public.

The number of tickets available for individuals will be limited, but no cap has been set yet.