August 18 - Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (GAGOC) held a press conference today at the Guangzhou Asian Games Sport and Culture Center. The Deputy Director of the GAGOC's Marketing Department Ms Yuan Yue gave an update on the ticket affairs of the Games. The second phase ticket sales has been closed on August 15 with applications for about 20,000 tickets for the Asian Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies, including 16,000 or so for the Opening Ceremony. GAGOC will conduct a ticket lottery within a month to select the owners of the 5000 tickets available for the Asian Games Opening Ceremony. The results will be announced in September.

The second phase ticket sales of the Games started on July 26, 2010 and closed on August 15. Tickets offered for sale in phase II were for the 4 ceremonies of opening and closing of the 2010 Asian Games and Asian Para Games. Tickets were sold under the principle of "payment beforehand, open subscription, confirmation subject to draws". As at 17:00 on August 15, GAGOC's ticketing center received around 20,000 applications, of which 16,000 or so are ticket applications for the Opening Ceremony of the Asian Games. 

According to Ms. Yuan Yue, Deputy Director of the GAGOC's Marketing Department, GAGOC will conduct a random draw within a month since the total number of tickets available for the Asian Games Opening Ceremony is 5000. The draw will be closely watched by supervisory and audit department, Guangzhou Notary Public Office and the media. The result will be announced in September. The GAGOC will send confirmation letters to successful applicants and return payments to other applicants.

16000 applications for 5000 Opening Ceremony tickets meaning one out of the three applications (1:3) is successful, showing that everyone is longing to watch the spectacular opening ceremony of the Asian Games. Deputy Director Yuan Yue of the GAGOC's Marketing Department said that the principle of "Payment First" is to stop illicit selling of tickets. The tickets for the Asian Games Opening & Closing Ceremonies will be delivered in October.