On the Scene in Beijing -- BOCOG Investigates Ticket Scam, Korean President to Attend Opening Ceremony

Ticket Scam Forces BOCOG Investigation

BOCOG is investigating reports that thousands of people worldwide have been caught up in a fake tickets scam for the Olympics.

"We are against any practice of the scalping of tickets or speculating in ticket sales," Sun Weide, BOCOG’s deputy media chief told reporters Monday.

"We still have to verify the information with the concerned NOCs because the NOC is in charge of the tickets."

Thousands of sports fans from the U.S., Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are thought to have been duped to buy fake tickets from the bogus US-based website www.beijingticketing.com. Its offices are based in Phoenix, Arizona.

The International Olympic Committee has reportedly received complaints from hundreds of victims of the scam.

Australian victims include parents of Olympic athletes and former New South Wales opposition leader Kerry Chikarovski. Some Australian customers reportedly handed over more than $AU60,000 each for tickets, but have not received anything.

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) head John Coates says he believes Olympic officials have been duped in the scam.

"Our official ticket suppliers were announced in February 2007 and at the time we warned folk to only deal with the official supplier," Coates told media at a Monday press conference.

"It’s a great pity," he says, claiming there is little that can be done to compensate victims or find new tickets.

"There’s no role for Australian police or authorities [to play]. There were 31,000 tickets for Australia versus 19,000 in Athens."

The AOC is asking its ticket agent to see if there are any more tickets from other countries’ unused allocations, but this is unlikely as many of the 205 NOCs received fewer tickets than requested from BOCOG.

New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie confirmed Monday that only a handful of Kiwis have been affected.

Weide admits there is little that can be done, saying BOCOG drew attention to fraudulent websites touting Olympic tickets during the public sales phases and warned that customers should go through only "lawful channels".

Olympic Family Welcomed

Promising a "joyous gathering of the Olympic Family in Beijing," BOCOG says it has implemented innovations including a special team to assist with arrivals and departures of Olympic Family members.

Wang Shilin, vice director of BOCOG’s International Relations Department, says that instead of the previous Olympic practice of NOCs reserving buses in advance, dedicated vehicles are now available. Also new: a multi-language service center and a visa help service at the airport.

"The Olympic Family members are coming together to celebrate in Beijing," Wang said. “We will provide exceptional and considerate service."

He says BOCOG will offer tours of cultural sites and that the Chinese culture will "keep the Olympic Family members enthralled during their stay here."

Wang also says 158 of the 205 participating countries are already in residence in the Olympic Village in Beijing. At the sailing venue in Qingdao, 56 of 63 countries have checked in, and 33 of the nations competing in equestrian have checked into the Olympic Village in Hong Kong.

Opening Ceremony Highlights Two-Day China Jaunt for Korean President

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will watch the August 8 opening ceremony, as part of a two day trip to China.

Lee’s office made the announcement on Sunday, saying he also will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and South Korean athletes. Lee will return to Seoul on the Saturday after the ceremony.

Kiwis Confident of Medal Chances

The Chef de Mission for Team New Zealand says Kiwis are poised to capture "significantly" more medals than the 2004 Games.

Dave Currie made the announcement at a press conference this morning, saying "we’ve got a significant number of athletes who have performed well over the last six to 12 months ... if you look to prior to Athens, the number that are in that frame for Beijing is significantly higher than it was for Athens."

Sarah Ulmer, a member of the Kiwi athlete support team, was more assertive.

"New Zealand sport is in really good shape," she said. "The potential for us across all sports ... is really exciting."

One of those medal prospects is International Equestrian Federation Rider of the Century Mark Todd, who is returning to the Olympics after an eight-year hiatus. Todd is a multiple medalist in five different Olympics.

Todd says his return is the result of a night of drinks. "It started as a joke between friends," Todd said. "I probably had too much red wine."

Team New Zealand won five medals -- three gold -- in Athens.

Pope Benedict will Watch Games with “Deep Friendship

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI says he will follow the Olympics in Beijing and hopes the Games can serve as a model for the rest of the world.

Speaking to the faithful while on vacation in the Italian Alps, he called the quadrennial sporting celebration the "most important" sporting event in the world.

"I follow with deep friendship this great sporting event -- the most important and awaited on a world level -- and I wish that it offer the international community a valid example of coexistence among people of different background in the respect of common dignity," the pope said.

He expressed hope that each athlete can "give their best in the true Olympic spirit."

The Chinese government, which is officially atheist, forced Chinese Catholics to sever ties with the Vatican in 1951 and no formal relations currently exist between the two. The government runs the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, which appoints bishops and makes ecclesiastical decisions because it says the Vatican’s role of appointing bishops and administering the church encroaches on Chinese domestic affairs.

On the Schedule

Six practice water polo matches for men, and four for women.

Weather Report

Olympic Green: 29C/84F

Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center: 28C/82F

Hong Kong Beas River equestrian venue: 34C/93F

Quote of the Day...

"Put us on the moon and we will turn up and play."

Australian beach volleyball player Andrew Scacht on not playing in Tiananmen Square.

With reporting in Beijing from Mark Bisson, and Ed Hula III.