Olympic tickets to begin Phase 2 domestic sales on October 30

Updated：2007-10-27

View the Phase 2 policies

(BEIJING, October 27) -- The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) announced on Saturday that the second phase of domestic ticket sales for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games would start at 9:00 am, October 30 (GMT+8).

Differing from the Phase 1 sales, which relied on lottery drawings, the sales in this phase will use a "first come, first-served" policy within the scheduled time frame until the tickets are sold out.

1,850,000 tickets available

Roughly 1.85 million tickets to the Olympic sports competitions will be on sale in this phase, which will end in late January 2008. During the Phase 1 sales period from April 15 to June 30, all tickets to the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies and 1,590,000 tickets to the Olympic sports competitions were sold.

Outstanding payments from phase I, not qualified for phase 2

The eligibility requirements for Phase 2 remain unchanged from Phase 1. Any natural person who has an address in the territory of the People's Republic of China (excluding Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan Province) and meets the ID requirements is eligible to request Olympic tickets through the designated channels.

Children aged two and under will enjoy free access to the venues but will have to share a guardian's seat.

Individuals who reserved tickets in Phase 1 but did not fulfill the payment obligation must first pay the outstanding amount before their Phase 2 ticket request can be processed.

Sales channels

The tickets will be sold through the following three channels: the Beijing Olympic Official Ticketing website; 1,000 BOCOG-designated Bank of China (BOC) branches; and the Beijing Olympic Ticketing Call Center, +8610 952008.

Applicants can choose to reserve the tickets through any of the three channels, as all three channels will be connected to the same database. According to the policy, paper application forms will not be valid for this phase.

Two-day payment deadline

Ticket reservations will be held for two days; a valid payment must be made for the tickets within two days, either online using a Visa card or in person at a BOC outlet. Otherwise, the ticket reservation will expire two days after the reservation was made, and the tickets will become available again in the ticket pool.

Those who successfully pay for the tickets will be notified to pick up the paper tickets in June 2008.

50-ticket max for each individual

Each individual is allowed to request two to five tickets for 10 competitions per order, depending on the demand for the competition. The bar is set at two tickets for competitions with the highest demand and three to five tickets for other competitions, with a maximum of 50 tickets per request in this phase.

To prevent ticket scalping, BOCOG will monitor the ticketing system and lock the accounts of suspected scalpers. Owners of locked accounts will only be able to view the status of the accounts and will not be allowed to purchase additional tickets.

Paralympic tickets sales

The Paralympic ceremony and sports tickets will also be available following the release of the policy regulating the sales of these tickets.

For further information, please contact +8610 952008, or visit the official ticketing website of the BEIJING 2008 Olympic Games http://tickets.beijing2008.com.

Olympic ticketing policies expounded

Updated：2007-08-02

(BEIJING, August 1) -- In an exclusive interview with the official website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games recently, Rong Jun, director of BOCOG Ticketing Center explained in detail the policies and procedures of ticket sale for the Games.

Payment for the first phase to be completed in September

The first phase of the ticketing process was featured by public application and lottery distribution.

The major part of the first phase wound up on June 30, when over 700,000 orders for more than five million tickets were submitted, which showed the wide interest and enthusiasm for the Olympics?

The second part of the first phase will take place in July and August. During this period, the orders will be analyzed and checked. BOCOG is expected to start the process of lottery and allocation in early August. The results will be released to the public and those who are confirmed as successful buyers will be notified through email or post. If they pay within a required time, they will finally receive their tickets.

There will be an open and fair lottery

During the first phase, any events that are oversubscribed will be subject to a lottery to decide the distribution of the tickets. This is in line with the practice of recent Olympic Games. The Beijing Olympics have been attracting much attention and the lottery process is seen as a good way to ensure an open, fair and transparent distribution of tickets

The booking data undoubtedly call for a lottery to distribute the tickets of the opening and closing ceremonies and other "hot" events. Furthermore, the lottery process shall not only target a certain event or a competition, but also specifically priced tickets. For instance, the tickets for specific seats of the opening ceremony shall be categorized to ensure their fair distribution.

The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) will invite supervisors and third party notaries to witness the process, and the media will also be given an opportunity to record it.

The second phase begins in October

During the second phase, which begins in October, the ticketing principle is "First Come, First Served". The public can make bookings on line, contact BOCOG Call Center (952008) or book through the designated outlets of the Bank of China, which number over 1,000 across the country.

The Call Center, launched in March, will sell tickets from the beginning of October. Payment will be made through VISA Card. Non-VISA-Card-holders must go to Bank of China outlets to make payment. BOCOG will keep their orders for 48 hours. After that, the computer system will automatically cancel the order.

During the third phase, on-site ticketing will be launched in April 2008 to sell the remaining tickets.

Tickets can be available in June or July

The tickets booked during the first two phases are expected to be delivered to buyers in June or July next year. As most of the Olympic venues will be completed by the end of this year, the staff of the BOCOG Ticketing Center will go to every venue to check the exact seats and allocate the bookings. Then they will forward the data to the ticket printers, who are expected to print them out between April and June. That means that in June and July all effectively subscribed tickets will reach their buyers. The designated outlets of the Bank of China will be the only places where the tickets can be obtained faultlessly.

Ticket design under way

The design of the Olympic tickets is under way. Their look will be in line with the general image of the Olympic Games. The tickets show not only where the spectators will be seated, but also the sport pictograms to indicate the competitions they will watch.

The false proof technologies used make the tickets unique collection objects. The name of the spectator will be printed on the tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies, making them personalized and collectable.

Olympic Opening ceremony tickets getting hot (photo attached)

Updated：2007-06-21

(BEIJING, June 20) -- Since the launch of the ticketing program, over 360,000 orders have been made for a total of 2.2 million tickets to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, nearly one third of the supply volume.

Most buyers are swarming to get the tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies and the demand has overtaken the supply line of 26,000 for the first phase of the ticketing program, which is due to end on June 30, 2007.

It is now certain that the distribution of the opening/closing ceremonies' tickets will be decided by lot, said Rong Jun, director of the Ticketing Center of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).

Mr. Rong Jun

Other much sought-after tickets are for football, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, diving and gymnastics. "Demand closely reflects the popularity of the sports and the athletes' performances," Rong said.

"However, sales for some little known sports such as triathlon, sailing and mountain bike, have surpassed our expectations", he added.

The official ticketing website (www.tickets.beijing2008.cn) is the most efficient way to order tickets and one million users have already registered. According to Rong, some 90 percent of the orders are made online.

He said overseas ticketing is also brisk. So far 130 national and regional Olympic committees and their distributors have signed ticketing agreements with BOCOG, which will fix their quotas in due time.

Q/A of tickets information

How to purchase Olympic tickets in each phase?
Are there other ways of submitting ticket applications than through the website?
When should I submit my Olympic ticket application?
Should I wait until the opening of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games before buying my tickets?
When do I pay for my tickets?
Can I cancel my application after it is submitted?
Will it increase my probability of securing the tickets for a particular session if I submit multiple application forms or include the session multiple times on my form?
What is the maximum number of Olympic tickets I may purchase?
How are price levels determined?
How do I find out if I have secured any Olympic tickets?
Will the session tickets I applied for be adjacent to one another?
How do I locate my seats?
When are my tickets available for pick-up?
Do I need to notify BOCOG of any changes on my mailing address or my contact numbers, etc.?
Can I submit an accommodation booking along with my ticket application?
I live overseas. Can I book my Olympic tickets through this website?
I'm a wheelchair user. Are Olympic venues built to be wheelchair-friendly?

How to purchase Olympic tickets in each phase?

Olympic ticket sales are conducted in three phases, with multiple purchasing methods available in each phase.

Phase 1 starts in April 2007, and ends on June 30th, 2007. This phase is only for the submission of ticket applications. Customers may make their submissions electronically on the ticketing website or by a paper form. Completed paper forms can be submitted at any participating Bank of China Olympic ticket outlet or at the following mailing address: Beijing 100007 Mailbox, Sub-box No. 98, Beijing, Postal code 100007.

Phase 2 starts in October 2007, and ends in December 2007. This phase offers three ways of purchasing tickets:

1. the ticketing website
2. the participating Bank of China Olympic ticketing outlets, and
3. the Olympic Ticketing Call Center.

Ticket orders placed in Phase 2 will be processed on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Phase 3 starts in April 2008 and extends through the closing of the Olympic Games. During this phase, in addition to the three purchasing methods in Phase 2, you may also make purchases at the particular venue box offices. Tickets purchased in Phase 3 will be printed out in real time.

Are there other ways of submitting ticket applications than through the website?

Yes. Although the official ticketing website provides the most convenient way for submitting ticket applications, you may alternatively choose to submit your application in paper form. However, whether submitted electronically or in paper form, each applicant may submit one and only one Ticket Application Form.

A paper form can be obtained in several ways:

• Pick up an application form at any Bank of China business office;
• Download and print the Ticket Application Form from this website;
• Cut off or photocopy the forms published on newspapers.

Paper application forms can be submitted at:

• any one of the 1000 participating Bank of China Olympic ticket outlets throughout China. A full list of participating outlets can be found on this website or on the Olympic ticketing booklets available at the Bank of China participating branches.
• the following mailing address: Beijing 100007 Mailbox, Sub-box No. 98, Beijing, Postal code 100007. The date of a mailing submission will match the date of postage.

The submission deadline for Olympic ticket applications is June 30th, 2007.

When should I submit my Olympic ticket application?

The Olympic ticket sales of Phase 1 start in April 2007 and ends on June 30 2007. Whether you submit early or on the last day, you will have an equal chance of securing tickets.

Should I wait until the opening of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games before buying my tickets?

It is better to buy your tickets sooner than later. The best seats of the more popular events sell out quickly.

When do I pay for my tickets?

In Phase 1, if you have been allocated tickets through the lottery, BOCOG will charge an amount appropriate to the actual ticket allocation using the payment information on your application form. When purchasing tickets in Phase 2 and Phase 3, the amounts are due at the time you place an order.

Can I cancel my application after it is submitted?

Once your Olympic ticket application form is submitted, it cannot be edited or cancelled. After the ticket lottery, any confirmed tickets cannot be refunded. Therefore, please carefully plan your application giving consideration to event schedules, venue locations, and ticket prices, etc. Please double-check all other information entered in your application form before submitting it.

Will it increase my probability of securing the tickets for a particular session if I submit multiple application forms or include the session multiple times on my form?

No, your chance of securing Olympic tickets will not be increased by either multiple submissions of an application form or multiple entries of an Olympic session on one application form. In Phase 1 ticket sales, each applicant can only submit one application form either online or via a paper copy. On each application form, you may select up to 10 First Options and 10 corresponding Alternative Options. However, a session may only be selected once either as a First option or an Alternative Option.

What is the maximum number of Olympic tickets I may purchase?

To achieve a maximum viewing audience, and eliminate a black market in ticket sales, BOCOG has placed a limit on the maximum number of tickets a customer can request for a particular session when filling out an application form. The ticket ordering limit for a session will automatically be displayed when you search for tickets online, or can be found in the ticket application booklets available at any participating Bank of China Olympic ticket outlets.

How are price levels determined?

Price levels and their corresponding seating areas are determined by miscellaneous factors such as the architectural design and geographic location of an event-hosting venue as well as the characteristics of the event itself. Different price levels are distinguished by the letter labels A, B, C, etc. The seating areas represented by each price level may vary from venue to venue and from session to session. Please take it into consideration when filling out your application form.

How do I find out if I have secured any Olympic tickets?

After the ticket lottery and allocation, BOCOG will notify the successful applicants. In addition, even without an online ticketing account, beginning in October 2007, applicants will be able to view their lottery results on the ticketing website after identifying themselves at the online prompts.

Will the session tickets I applied for be adjacent to one another?

Session tickets applied for on an application form will be allocated together.

How do I locate my seats?

Many competition venues are currently under construction, and thus we are unable to indicate the exact position of your seats. However, applicants may request tickets to sessions by price levels, which will secure your seating position within the venue in a broader range. When delivered, your Olympic tickets will display the exact seating numbers. Prior to that, BOCOG will not make a special notification to each applicant on this, nor will the Customer Service department of BOCOG have this information available.

When are my tickets available for pick-up?

Your tickets will be available for pick-up at least 30 days prior to the opening of the Olympic Games. For security reasons, you tickets will not be sent to your mailing address. They will be sent to the participating Bank of China Olympic ticketing outlet you chose on your application form. Please pick up your tickets in person.

Do I need to notify BOCOG of any changes on my mailing address or my contact numbers, etc.?

Yes. To ensure that all notices will correctly reach you in a timely manner, please notify BOCOG of any such changes either by editing your online ticketing account profile or by contacting the Olympic Ticketing Call Center.

Can I submit an accommodation booking along with my ticket application?

Sorry, BOCOG does not provide ticket-plus-accommodation travel packages. You will have to arrange for your own transport and accommodation prior to attending any Olympic sessions.

I live overseas. Can I book my Olympic tickets through this website?

Sorry, you are not eligible to book Olympic tickets through this website. Please contact your regional Olympic committee for inquiries on further ticketing information.

I'm a wheelchair user. Are Olympic venues built to be wheelchair-friendly?

Yes. All the Olympic venues are wheelchair accessible. If you need seats for wheelchair, please make sure to add "Wheelchair seats" instead of "Regular Seats" to your order.

Schedules of ticket on sale

Ticket Information and Pre-registration Mar 2007

Phase 1: Ticket application open to public Apr 2007 -- Jun 2007

Phase 1 ticket allocation, result notification, and payment processing Jul 2007 -- Sep 2007

Phase 2: Tickets on sale to public Oct 2007 -- Dec 2007

Phase 3: Tickets on sale to public Apr 2008 -- Sep 2008

Tickets Delivery Jun 2008 (estimated)

The way to purchase Olympic tickets in each phase

Olympic ticket sales are conducted in three phases, with multiple purchasing methods available in each phase.

Phase 1 starts in April 2007, and ends on June 30th, 2007. This phase is only for the submission of ticket applications. Customers may make their submissions electronically on the ticketing website or by a paper form. Completed paper forms can be submitted at any participating Bank of China Olympic ticket outlet or at the following mailing address: Beijing 100007 Mailbox, Sub-box No. 98, Beijing, Postal code 100007.

Phase 2 starts in October 2007, and ends in December 2007. This phase offers three ways of purchasing tickets:

1. the ticketing website
2. the participating Bank of China Olympic ticketing outlets, and
3. the Olympic Ticketing Call Center.

Ticket orders placed in Phase 2 will be processed on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Phase 3 starts in April 2008 and extends through the closing of the Olympic Games. During this phase, in addition to the three purchasing methods in Phase 2, you may also make purchases at the particular venue box offices. Tickets purchased in Phase 3 will be printed out in real time.

Apply for Your Olympic Tickets Now

Phase 1 application deadline is June 30, 2007
How to Buy tichkets
Tickets are now available for applications
Tickets are now available for applicationsBOCOG is now accepting ticket application requests through this ticketing website and designated Bank of China Olympic Ticket Outlets throughout China. Applications for any over-subscribed sessions will enter a random selection. Whether you submit your application early or on the last day, you will have an equal chance of securing tickets.
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You can submit your ticket application online if you have a Visa Card or a Bank of China savings account.
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Or, you may manually fill out the Application Form and go to any Bank of China Olympic Ticket Outlet to submit your application. You may also mail it to: Beijing 100007 mail box, 98 sub-box, Post code 100007.
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Only valid applications will enter the ticket lottery.
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We will notify you of your ticket allocation results after the ticket lottery.
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Please note that since the Beijing 2008 Olympic competition schedule is subject to change, the sessions available for application may also change, We strive to provide you with the most up-to-date ।