For people who miss out on getting Olympic tickets, big screens will be set up outside in 26 places across Beijing.

“We want to make the Olympic Games a platform for the peaceful friendship exchange between Chinese and people of other cultures,” said Zhao Dongming, the Olympic organising committee’s cultural activities chief.

Presumably some of the spots would include Tiananmen Square and various parks in Beijing. Expect crushing crowds and tight security in the areas where the games will be shown. On China’s National Holiday this year 120,000 people watched the flag raising ceremony in Tiananmen Square, despite the rain.