BEIJING -- There will be more than 7 million tickets available for sale, head of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG) has said.

"Excluding those reserved for the 'Olympic family', which includes sponsors, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and sports federation officials, over 7 million tickets will be sold to the general public," BOCOG president Liu Qi told reporters during an interview this week.

"We will start to sell tickets to contracted corporate clients in September, and tickets will go on sale to the public in the first half of next year," he added.

As the quardennially-held Olympic Games is the world's most popular sporting event, many local citizens are afraid that they cannot afford to watch the competitions.

Liu said the organizers have taken into consideration "the situations of China" when setting the prices.

"Except for the opening and closing ceremonies and a few popular events, the majority of tickets will be very, very cheap," said Liu.

"We hope that all Chinese have a chance to come and watch the Games."

Liu said BOCOG will unveil the prices for the Games pending final approval from the IOC.

Within China, people can purchase tickets through an official ticketing agent which has yet to be named, Liu said. All others will have to buy tickets through their corresponding national Olympic committee.