BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Beijing Olympic organizers plan to start selling tickets for the 2008 Games in the first half of 2007,said a top official at the local organizing committee.

    "The Olympic ticketing program is due to be unveiled next year, and ticket sales will start in the first half of 2007," said Liu Jingmin, executive vice president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympics (BOCOG), Thursday during an interview with a local radio program.

    According to the traditional practice, some 35 per cent of the tickets are reserved for national Olympic Committees, sponsors, international sports federations and broadcasters.

    Liu, also vice mayor of the Chinese capital, said that most of the tickets will be available to the public.

    "In principle, the organizing committee will not issue free tickets," he said.

    As for ticket pricing, Liu said that BOCOG will take into consideration the consuming power of Chinese people to make sure that ordinary people can afford to buy tickets.

    "(But) prices for the opening ceremony and some events' final competition should be a little bit higher," said Liu.

    Earlier, BOCOG conducted a public opinion poll on the prices for the games.   Enditem