The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) is reporting record demand for tickets to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China by Jamaicans around the world.

According to first vice-president of the JOA, Donald Anderson, the demand for tickets is shaping up to be the most on record.

"We have been getting requests from people in the United States from all over Jamaica and Europe, who would like us to get some tickets for them to attend the Games," Anderson said. He was speaking at a reception held at the Seymour Avenue residence of the Chinese ambassador to Jamaica, Chen Jinghua, on April 30, to mark the 100-day countdown to the XXIX Olympiad.

"We have never seen this level of interest in any Olympic Games, certainly during my association with the JOA for the last 25 years," he informed.

The level of interest shown, he said, was testimony to the appeal and pull of Beijing.

Best ever Games

"We have no doubt that the Games in Beijing, come August, is going to be the best ever Games," the vice president predicted, noting that members of the JOA were impressed by the progress of the facilities in place for the event, which they viewed last August.

"We have no doubt that the local organising committee has gone to the 'nth' degree to ensure that the Games are going to be the best Games ever. We are looking forward to being there," he said, noting that his Caribbean colleagues are also "anxiously awaiting the start of the Games".