Very true. That's why using hotel points is a good fallback in case a good deal doesn't materialize.

FWIW, I think hardly ANYBODY overseas is on the fence deciding whether to come to the Games or not. Those who are going have their airline tickets and visas. Everyone else has already concluded it's too much hassle. Indeed, it IS a lot of hassle.

~5 minutes online can "solve" this problem.

In the last week, I've had 3 inquiries from people (1 US, 1 UK, 1 Cont Europe) who are still looking for accommodations--all independent travellers of course but all have played this Olympic attendance game before. So there are still a few out there, esp those coming after Aug 15.

No, at this time it takes longer than that to find and book accommodation, as most Beijing rooms during the Games are on request only and instant bookings/confirmations are few and far between. I know, I just tried yesterday to help somebody out. And they want full upfront payment or at least hefty deposits, so the old "dummy booking" routine just to get a confirmation printout seems not that great a plan, or at least not an inexpensive one. Finally, there are many Chinese Embassies/Consulates in the world that want to see a visa applicant's hotel booking confirmation directly on original hotel letterhead, or at least a confirmed email from the hotel, before they will issue Chinese visa. The slack cut to USA citizens applying for visas in the USA isn't necessarily given elsewhere, and I tend to assume not everybody reading FT threads is from or in the USA.

The 2 newly-opened HIXs have fairly lenient cancellation policy, especially the HIX BEIJING GUANGSHUN.

Well, for what it's worth, last year, I got the Renaissance (a legit 5*) for a $98/night bid on Priceline. But that was last year, not this, the Olympic year. I would expect that you might be able to get something similar perhaps a month AFTER the Olympics, but not DURING the games. And, in fact, with taxes and the priceline fees, it still came out to around $114 per night - The direct-booked rate was $230 plus tax, though.

Tickets arrived for me today!
Looks like I got some pretty good stuff...3rd tier first row for an athletics, 24th row baseball (section 12?)
Tickets are very cool looking, nice style! The only downside is that they are gigantic and I'll need to carry them in a full sized envelope.

I haven't paid much attention to this yet, but I thought you had to pick up your CoSport tickets in Beijing. No?

No, cosport offered 2 shipping options...mine was a total of $50 for service fees and shipping. The options were free pickup in PEK or mail for either $15 or $35. Since I wasn't sure I would be going at that point, I decided to have them mailed and I could sell them to recoup my cost if I wasn't going.

I've unexpectedly been sent to Beijing for work through August that will coincide with the Olympics. I'm staying in Phoenix City in Chaoyang. I have no tickets to any events and it seems demand even for unpopular sports exceeded supply.

I've been to Olympics in Los Angeles and Atlanta and had both pre-ordered tickets and supplemented those with daily purchases near venues in unofficial trading zones. I don't mind paying above face value and will attend non-popular sports just to experience the Olympics. What are my best options for finding tickets, both now and during the games? I'm already in Beijing.

Travelres.com now has some "plausible" Olympic hotel rates on their website.

The "5 star" Kempinski Lufthansa Center is $160 all in (no breakfast). Some Chinese-managed 4 stars are in the $100 to $150 range.

If you actually click the "look & book" link, you will see the lowest rate for Kempinski Lufthansa is

I was just about to post advising him (and anyone else) to jump on that 160 rate, and jump with conviction. The Kempinski goes for north of 200 in the dead of winter and it was recently renovated. I like that hotel.

Never thought of going, never planned to go. BUT I will be in Hong Kong the first few days of the Olympics, and the equestrian events are being held there. I found that a couple of morning dressage events still have tickets. 8/9and 8/10 6:30-10:30a. Only about US$15 each. Maybe I'll go afterall.

Ah, a phantom price. Sorry. I just tried to pull it up now and it doesn't even come up.

Yesterday, I found some decent rates at some of the Holiday Inn Express in town (under $140). I'm pretty sure those are real, as they are direct rates.