Olympic Ticket Sales Cause Frenzy in Beijing

Thousands of hopeful spectators who had waited in line for as long as two days became unruly Friday in a panic to seize some of the remaining tickets to this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing. People were thrown to the ground, shoved up against barriers, and any semblance of order disintegrated when ticket windows unexpectedly re-opened on Friday. Fans and media reporters tangled with local law enforcement, who were forced to resort to minimal violence to restrain the frenzied crowds.

One reporter for Hong Kong Cable TV was assaulted by a police officer, who put him in a headlock and threw him out of a secure area after the journalist snuck inside and refused to leave. Many reporters attempted to gain access to areas blocked off by police, and were dealt with in a less-than-friendly manner. The restricted access prompted some to question the government's promise of open coverage of the Games. ''We hope the authorities will live up to their earlier promise to allow full freedom of the press during the Olympic Games,'' said Shum Siu-wah, a spokesperson for Hong Kong Cable TV.

Read more about ticket sales in Beijing here.