Beijing expects weddings rush as Olympics open: Official

BEIJING: The Beijing government is expecting a rush of people wanting to marry on the day the 2008 Olympic Games opens, despite rumours of restrictions, a city official said on Sunday.   

There has been speculation that civil affairs offices, which oversee marriage registration in China, will be closed on August 8, when the Olympic Games are set to open.   

The day is traditionally seen as a lucky date because the word 'eight' in Chinese, pronounced 'ba', sounds like the word for wealth or fortune.   

"We've long been prepared for a stampede of newlywed couples," Xinhua news agency quoted city spokesman Guo Xusheng as saying.   

"We do advise couples to make online reservations in advance." Organisers have chosen to open the Olympics on Friday, August 8, 2008 at eight o'clock in the evening.   

Nearly 3,400 couples tied the knot in Beijing alone on August 8, 2007, the report said, with some waiting in line at marriage offices throughout the night to be registered.   

"At present there are no regulations on restricting marriages on August 8," Guo told journalists.    "Couples are free to tie the knot on any weekday, so why not on August 8?"   

According to press reports, Beijing had planned a group wedding for up to 10,000 on August 8, 2007, but the ceremony was cancelled.