The Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (GAGOC) has donated 50,000 tickets to students in Hong Kong, while diamonds valued at about 100,000 yuan ($14,760) and 50,000 yuan ($7,380) will be given to the HK gold medalists who break world records and Asian records, respectively, Chinanews.com reports.

About 400 Hong Kong athletes will take part in 34 events at the Asian Games, which will be held in Guangzhou in November 12 to 27. The ticket sales aim to meet the demand sufficiently, said Fang Da'r, GAGOC's marketing director.

Hong Kong's sole ticketing agent for the Games, China Travel Service, will sell another 90,000 tickets there. Expecting great demand, the company also hopes the Games will benefit tourism there.

Fang said that after six years of preparations, the Asian Games venues will begin operation late this month or next month.