Olympic organisers in Beijing wants the traditional torch relay for the 2008 Games to pass through Taiwan, the Beijing News reported on Monday (Mar.14).

Farmers in Northwest China's Shaanxin Province complete an art works with a 1.80-meter-long fish, Mar. 6, 2005. The work is devoted to the 2008 Olympic Games. [newsphoto] 

"The domestic torch relay should cover as much ground as possible and involve all China's provinces, regions and peoples, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan," the newspaper quoted Liu Qi, president of the 2008 Beijing Olympics organising committee, as saying in a Sunday interview on China Central Television.

Liu, a member of the Communist Party's elite politburo, also said China's marketing campaign for the games was going so smoothly that income should far surpass the original budget of $1.625 billion,

"Our marketing efforts are going well, so there is a very high possibility for setting low ticket prices," he said.

Beijing's Olympic running costs are expected to be around $1.6 billion, a fraction of the $37 billion budgeted to beautify the city and build infrastructure, including venues valued at $2 billion.

While there has been some concern about Beijing's ability to finish its venues in time for the Games, Liu said construction was on schedule and a bigger hurdle would be improving Beijingers' manners, the newspaper said.

"We need to work on getting people to stand in line, not spit on the street or litter, be polite and especially to be friendly and welcoming to guests," he said.

Editor: Olivia