BEIJING—Beijing organizers will try again to sell Olympic tickets online.

The final batch of domestic-market tickets—1.38 million—will go on sale beginning May 5, organizers announced Wednesday. Tickets will be sold at Bank of China outlets and on an official web site, with sales closing on June 9. The Beijing Olympics open on August 8.

Overwhelming demand for tickets caused a computer system to crash after just a few hours when the previous sales phase opened six months ago, forcing organizers to revert to a lottery system.

The lottery system was also used in the initial phase of domestic ticket sales.

“Well, we have only 100 days to go before the opening ceremony. We don’t have enough time for a lottery draw,” said Zhu Yan, director of the ticketing center for the Beijing organizing committee. “We don’t have time for that to be done.”

Zhu tried to give assurances that “fake or counterfeit tickets” would be difficult to produce and would be detected. Forgeries could present a problem in China, where counterfeiting of goods from DVDs to heart medicine is widespread despite repeated crackdowns.

Ticket-scalping is also widespread in China. Tickets to high-profile events often sell out quickly, frequently into the hands of scalpers planning to resell the tickets for a profit.

“In the process of designing the tickets, we have incorporated a series of anticounterfeiting technologies to make faking tickets rather difficult,” Zhu said. “We are sure that fake tickets will be created, but they will be low quality.”

Zhu said buyers would be limited to three tickets for two sessions—a maximum of six tickets—and once those were paid for, the same buyer could apply to purchase six more.

A year ago, organizers said about 7.2 million tickets would be available for domestic and foreign sales. On Tuesday Zhu said that number had fallen to 6.8 million. He did not elaborate.

Overall, organizers have said the Beijing Games will generate about 9 million tickets, but a large chunk is set aside for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), sponsors, dignitaries and TV broadcasters.

Heads of national Olympic committees have been pressuring organizers for months for more tickets. National Olympic Committee officials at meetings earlier this month in Beijing said they were more satisfied with their ticket allotments. However, some athletes say they are unable to obtain tickets for close family members—even parents.

Domestically, China’s population of 1.3 billion has pushed demand far beyond supply.

Zhu said there had been no let up in demand despite growing discord surrounding the Games.

Protests by pro-Tibet groups along the torch relay—or routes shortened drastically to avoid demonstrators—prompted IOC president Jacques Rogge to say the Olympics were in “crisis” during meetings earlier this month in Beijing.

Beijing’s poor air quality has also caused concerns, although organizers have pledged that much of the area’s heavy industry and construction will be halted by July 20.

World-record holder disappointed

IN Dunkirk, France, world-record holder Laure Manaudou won’t compete in the 200-meter freestyle at the Beijing Olympics after pulling out of the event at the French national trials Tuesday.

Manaudou came fourth in the heats to qualify for the semifinals but decided not to swim, forfeiting a chance to compete in the race at the August 8 to 24 Games.

She swam one minute and 55.52 seconds to set the world mark in the 200 at the 2007 world championships in Melbourne, Australia. Manaudou was way below her best in Tuesday’s heats, finishing in 2:00.08.

“We decided on this, the program was not good for me,” Manaudou said. She comfortably won the 100 backstroke later Tuesday, earning her Olympic spot in that event.

On Monday Manaudou broke down in tears after losing in the 400 for the first time since June 2004. She was beaten by Camelia Potec—coached by Manaudou’s former mentor, Philippe Lucas—and Coralie Balmy.

Greeks toughen doping law

IN Athens, Greece, on Tuesday promised tougher penalties against doping, amid a drug scandal that is likely to exclude the national weightlifting team from the Beijing Olympics.

Michalis Liapis, the minister for culture and sport, said a legal amendment would make the use of banned substances by athletes in competitive sport a felony instead of a misdemeanor.

The law is also set to bolster powers at the domestic antidoping agency, Eskan, and revise state benefits for Olympic medal winners.

Ministry officials said the reforms would take effect after the Olympics.

Eleven members of Greece’s national weightlifting team tested positive for banned substances on March 7. The results—still pending confirmation—were announced on April 4.

The changes are based on a report issued Tuesday by an expert committee created in the wake of the doping scandal. The committee also proposed scaling back lavish state benefits—including jobs and business licenses—awarded to top Greek athletes, as well as punishing sporting federations with frequent doping violations.

Brazil to face difficulties

IN São Paulo Dunga says Brazil will need to approach the Olympics with caution, despite a favorable draw for the men’s soccer competition.

Seeking its first Olympic gold medal in soccer, Brazil was placed with China, New Zealand and Belgium in Group C, considered by many to be one of the easiest.

Coach Dunga was not too upbeat, however.

“Everybody plays better when they face Brazil, and that’s going to happen again in the Olympics,” the Brazilian coach said, following Sunday’s draw. “We need to prove our superiority on the field.”

While acknowledging Brazil’s opponents are not traditional soccer powers, Dunga did not want to label the group as easy.

“It’s up to Brazil to show, on the field, whether the group is easy or difficult,” he said. “Truth in soccer comes on the field.”

The manager appeared most concerned with the host Chinese.

“China has been preparing with intensity to do well in all sports, and it’s not going to be different with soccer,” Dunga said.

Brazil will begin August 7 against Belgium, then face New Zealand three days later and China on August 13.

The Olympics is the only significant soccer title Brazil has never won. The Brazilians returned with the silver medal twice, in 1984 in Los Angeles and 1988 in Seoul, and the bronze in 1996 in Atlanta.

Dunga was a member of the Brazilian runner-up side in Los Angeles. The former defensive midfielder later helped Brazil’s senior squad win the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Son also rises

PUERTO PRINCESA—The National Capital Region (NCR) found itself making waves in the pool earlier this week. On Wednesday, it was the Big City’s foes on turf that was left eating tartan dust.

TICKETS! TICKETS!

BEIJING—Beijing organizers will try again to sell Olympic tickets online.

The final batch of domestic-market tickets—1.38 million—will go on sale beginning May 5, organizers announced Wednesday. Tickets will be sold at Bank of China outlets and on an official web site, with sales closing on June 9.

ADD Makisig Network to the list of contenders vying to become the next television coveror of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

A BUSY schedule awaits the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) ambassadors of goodwill when they set foot in Bacolod City for the 2008 Smart-PBA All-Star Weekend.

BORACAY—The sand, the sea and the sun remain as alluring. But for Jusabelle Brillo and Janez Armie Igot, they feel the pressure.

THE Philippine men’s and women’s dragon boat teams will see action in Malaysia and Macau, respectively, as they aim for an impressive showing for them to be able to vie in the First Asian Beach Games and eventually, the 2010 Asian Games.

BASEBALL fever is shooting up in the metro, as now, even the kids are active in the game. All eyes are on the International Little League Association of Manila (Illam) these days after a series of activities gave the youngsters a chance to prove their love for the sport. And show promise, too.