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BANK of China Ltd, the nation's second largest, expects to get at least 10 million new savings accounts as it distributes tickets for the 2008 Beijing Olympic in the mainland.

The Bank of China savings account is one of two payment methods under phase one of domestic ticket sales, Bloomberg News reported.

The bank is expecting a "huge surge in demand" in new account openings, Yao Hua, deputy general manager at the personal banking department, told reporters in Beijing yesterday.

Tickets for the 17-day event went on sale on Sunday and three-quarters of the seven million tickets available - priced from 30 yuan (US$4) to 5,000 yuan - are for the home market. Ticket sales will raise US$140 million in total.

"It's hard to give a precise number but we're prepared to handle the opening of tens of millions of new savings accounts," Yao said. "The Olympics is an event that is keenly watched in China."

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