Scalpers making huge profits on Olympic tickets
Scalpers in Beijing are in high demand as they sell tickets to Olympic events that are sold out.
Two weeks before the Games opened the organisers announced that every single Olympic event being held in the Chinese capital had been sold out.
When a final tranche of tickets went on sale last month police struggled to control surging crowds of more than 50,000 people, indicating the huge enthusiasm for the Olympics and the fuel for a thriving black market.
Two tickets for swimming listed as 200 yuan (29 dollars) each were offered for 5,000 yuan, while the American tout said he had sold three tickets for the opening ceremony for 20,000 dollars each.
One Beijing resident, who has sold on spare tickets and leftovers from friends, said demand was huge.
“I sold an opening ceremony ticket I won in the lottery for 800 yuan for 7,000,” he said, on condition of anonymity.
“But I saw some tickets to USA v China men’s basketball going for 10,000.”
