Tickets for the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics went on sale in China as a ticket booking center was set up in the capital city Beijing on Tuesday.

The Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games Ticketing and Tour Center (China), co-established by China Sports Consultant Co. Ltd. and China Travel International Ltd.(CTI), will be the official Turin 2006 ticketing agent in China, said Wei Jizhong, an official at the Chinese Olympic Committee.

According to He Xuejun, manager of the ticketing and tour center, a total of 1,500 tickets are available for booking via the center and the ticket prices range from 20 euros to 50 euros.

"These tickets are for the opening and closing ceremonies, and nine sports that are popular in China as well, such as figure skating, short-track speed skating and free-style skiing," said He.

The center will also help arrange ticket buyers for their tour of Italy, added He.

The Turin Winter Olympics, featuring 15 sports altogether, run through February 10 to 26, 2006. Organizers said about half of the one million tickets had been sold out. It is estimated that the 2006 Games will draw some 1.5 million spectators.

(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2004)