You can't buy them yet. In fact, you may have to enter a lottery to do so. And you can't make a reservation until next month at the earliest. But as of March 8, sports fans in China have been allowed to register for tickets for the Beijing 2008 Games, and the deluge has already begun.

With instructions in both Chinese and English, www.tickets.beijing2008.com now provides up-to-date information on ticket prices and policies, ordering procedures, the competition schedule for the Games and an introduction to the venues.

Many are expected to apply for tickets, but who will receive them in the event of an overspill is anybody's guess.

"We will try to ensure the fairest way to allocate tickets," said Rong Jun, ticketing division chief of BOCOG's marketing department.

Chinese citizens, foreign residents, people in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan Province can also buy tickets through the website if they meet the following requirements:

1. Citizens of Hong Kong and Macao SARs must possess a valid passport or a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents with valid endorsement;

2. Citizens of Taiwan Province must possess a valid travel document or a Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents with valid endorsement;

3. Foreign citizens must possess a valid passport with a Chinese visa valid for six months or more.

If you reside in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan or in a foreign country, you are not eligible to order Olympic tickets through this website.

Ticket buyers can contact the regional Olympic Committee or sports federation for ticket ordering information.

1. Hong Kong: Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, www.hkolympic.org.

2.Macao: Macao Sport Development Board, www.sport.gov.mo.

3. Taiwan: Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, www.tpenoc.net.

4. All other countries must refer to their National Olympic Committee.

Tickets will also be available through telephone sales, ticket booths at the venues and designated agencies outside the host city.