Beijing returns to ticket lottery after system crash

Beijing organisers will revert to a lottery system to allocate the second tranche of tickets for next year`s Olympics after huge demand forced the suspension of sales on a first come, first-served basis last week.

Residents of mainland China will be able to register to buy the 1.8 million tickets between Dec. 10 and Dec. 30, according to a statement posted on Monday on the Games` Web site (www.beijing2008.cn).

"The ticketing policy modifications aim to reflect a people-oriented policy and to adhere to principles of fairness, impartiality, and convenience to the public," read the statement.