2008 Olympics tickets going cheap: BOCOG
30 November 2006
The Beijing Organising Committee (BOCOG) announced Wednesday that tickets for the 2008 Beijing Olympics will cost just 30% of the 2004 Athens games, the South China Morning Post reported. Entrance to sports events will range from 30 to 1,000 yuan (US$3.82-US$127), while admission to the opening ceremony will range from 200 to 5,000 yuan (US$25-US$637) and tickets for the closing ceremony 150 to 3,000 yuan (US$19-US$382.6); 58% of the 7 million tickets to be issued would cost 100 yuan (US$12.75) or less. The pricing policy was guided by a "commitment to ensuring the greatest number of people would be able to experience the Olympic values and spirit," BOCOG said. Tickets will go on sale in the first half of next year, with at least 50% reserved for the domestic market and the rest going to foreign spectators and international sports organisations. Ticket prices in Athens were, on average, 34% cheaper than those for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.