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FAQ About Beijing
2008 Olympic Tickets
The Beijing Organizing Committee for the
Olympic Games (BOCOG) on Wednesday revealed details of its
affordable ticketing program. Following is an interview by Xinhua
News Agency with BOCOG officials:
Q: How do you compare the ticket prices
of the Beijing Olympic Games with that of previous Games?
A: Every organizing committee
for the Olympic Games has to consider the affordability of the
local people. China is a developing country, and our annual income
is less than that of people in both Sydney and Athens.
Compared to the previous Games, prices of the
tickets for the Beijing Games are significantly less. The highest
price for an Opening Ceremony ticket is half of that for the last
Games, and the lowest is only one fifth. For normal competitions,
prices of the tickets, both the highest and the lowest, are only
one third of those in Athens.
Q: Are all competition sessions priced?
A: The Beijing Olympic Games
will feature 28 sports and 302 events with different audience
expectation. Some sessions will not require tickets, such as road
cycling, walking and the marathon, as these events will be open to
spectators. We currently have 240 pricing categories for the
tickets and are still discussing ticket policies for some specific
events.
Q: Will there be any free tickets,
tickets for staff or discounted tickets?
A: There won't be any free
tickets, tickets for staff or discounted tickets. BOCOG has put a
ticketing policy in place in order to ensure that tickets are
potentially accessible to everyone. We have even developed a
special program to allow the Chinese students to attend the Games.
Q: Will over 7 million tickets be sold
to the public?
A: We have a quota in place.
Domestic public have access to at least 50% of the tickets
available, which is higher than recent Games.
According to the Olympic Games conventions,
tickets are sold worldwide.
In addition to tickets for the domestic and
international markets, BOCOG will also sell tickets to the IOC,
NOCs, IFs, sponsors and broadcasters.
We have a preliminary quota for different
market segments and the final plan will be published after
approval by the IOC.
Q: How are the other seats allocated
apart from the 7 million selling tickets?
A: BOCOG has seat allocations
for the media who will report the Games. We have also allocated
tickets for the athletes who are not to compete then and there.
However, BOCOG will make every effort to sell as many tickets as
possible.
Q: Will electronic tickets be used for
the Beijing Olympic Games?
A: To reflect the theme of a "High-Tech
Olympics", we are working with our ticketing partner and sponsors
to apply high- technology in the ticketing process.
(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2006)
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