14 April 2004	Wednesday	23 Safar 1425

ATHENS, April 13: Athens Olympic organisers said on Tuesday they have sold nearly two million tickets for the August Games but over three million were still waiting for buyers.

ATHOC said they had secured 74 percent of their ticket revenue of 183 million euros (US$220m). A total of three million tickets were made available, mostly over the internet, to residents of the European Union and other rich European countries on the internet.

Another 2.3 million tickets are to be distributed through national Olympic Committees, international sports federations, broadcasters, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and official sponsors.

"The ticket sales programme is developing at an impressive tempo, despite appearances of instability on the international scene," organisers said in a statement. But Athens hoteliers complain of a lack of interest by foreign tourists, blaming global terrorist threats and an economic downturn in the developed countries.

ATHOC did not reveal how many tickets were sold to Greek and foreign visitors, but by last June when 600,000 tickets were sold, four in five had gone to Greeks. Organisers expect a last sales push from June 1, when ticket counters in the Olympic venues are scheduled to open.

No tickets will be available from April 16 to June 1, when seat assignment is carried out. Tickets for swimming, tennis, shooting, triathlon, rhythmic gymnastics and sailing are almost sold out. -AFP