Rong Jun, director of the Beijing 2008 Ticketing Center said, “by 24:00 last night we have received more than 700,000 orders. More orders are expected to come in the next few days as some are delivered by mail”.

Rong said, of the 700,000 orders, about 90 per cent were over the Internet and the rest through Bank of China branches or by mail.

He added, “orders are relatively centralized. Some hot events such as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies are over-subscribed, while a few other events are a little unpopular”.

Tickets will by assigned between July and August before the second leg of domestic sales being in October through December.