Source: CCTV.com

07-25-2008 15:58

Special Report:   2008 Beijing Olympic Games

With just two weeks to go, tickets of the Beijing summer Olympics are selling like hot cakes around the world. Taiwan residents are also searching for ways to buy tickets for the mega event.

According to China Taipei Olympic Committee, up to 5,200 tickets have been sold on the island. But thousands more people are still asking for tickets. Some are even calling their friends and family in the mainland for help. China Taipei Olympic Committee is also being pursued by numerous Olympic fans.

Cai Cijue, Vice Chairman of Chin Taipei Olympic Committee, said, "I have got so many friends and family members asking for tickets. But I can only tell them to take the official lotto procedures."

Among all the Olympic tickets, the opening and closing ceremony tickets are the most in demand. Taiwan was allocated only 200 tickets according to its population. Half are for sports VIPs. So the local Olympic committee has to adopt a lotto system in selling the remaining 100 tickets.

Cai Cijue said, "People are so enthusiastic about the Games. 1,500 people were competing for 50 opening ceremony tickets and 800 people tried their luck in getting 50 closing ceremony tickets. In fact, tickets for the Athens Olympics used to be best sellers, but those for Beijing Olympics have sold five times as many."

Taiwan's tourism industry is also anxious for the Games, which is set to promote Taiwan group tourists to travel to Beijing on chartered flights. Taiwan's baseball fans are also organizing group travellers to cheer for their local teams at the matches.

 

Editor:Yang Jie