Beijing Olympics tickets on sale

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Tickets have gone on sale for next year's Olympic Games in the Chinese capital, Beijing.

More than seven million tickets are available to the public, of which about 75% will go to Chinese residents.

Organisers say they have worked to keep prices down in order to make the Olympics affordable for everyone.

Fifty-eight percent of all tickets will cost $12 (£6) or less, organisers say. Some tickets priced at about $1 will be reserved for students.

Tickets will be sold via the internet and at 1,000 branches of the Bank of China. Officials said they hoped to make $140m (£70m) from sales.

One person, one ticket

Officials have limited sales for the popular opening and closing ceremonies to a one person, one ticket basis, ruling out group or block bookings.

For the more popular sporting events, buyers will be allowed a maximum of two tickets.

Wang Wei, secretary general of the Beijing Organising Committee, acknowledged that this might not be a popular decision.

"Limiting tickets to one per person is a problem for sure, but there are just too many of us Chinese," he said. "We've taken this policy to ensure many more people can watch the games."

Organisers say they are taking measures to guard against fake tickets.

"In order to ensure safety, prevent fraud and eliminate profit-oriented resale of tickets, state-of-the-art anti-counterfeit technologies will be adopted," said Rong Jun, head of ticketing.

Electronic chips would be used, as well as other technology, he said.

Organisers are selling tickets in two waves. More tickets will go on sale in October 2007.

The Olympic Games begin on 8 August 2008.