Ticket sales for next summer's Athens Olympics have doubled expectations according to Greek organizers who unveiled the results of the first phase of applications on June 24.

A late rush of Greek interest boosted applications for tickets to 591,112, or 20 percent of the overall allocation of three million. Athens Olympics organisers (ATHOC) had set a target of 300,000 based on demand for the Barcelona Games.

The Greeks despite a slow start showed their interest in the end, ATHOC ticketing manager Mary Manolopoulou told reporters.

Two-thirds of all applications came in the final week of the month-long first phase which began on May 12. ATHOC have so far netted close to 47 million euros from sales to the general public.

"This is an Olympic record with the largest percentage of tickets sold 14 months before the Games," said ATHOC director Marton Simitsek.

Most spectators went for the cheap seats with tickets between 10 and 35 euros accounting for 34 percent of sales. The average spend among applicants was 900 euros.

A lottery will be staged on July 4 to allocate seats for oversubscribed events.

Top-selling events included track and field, which accounted for a third of total applications, swimming and soccer. Greek medal hopes helped to sell out traditionally less glamorous events like weightlifting and rhythmic gymnastics.

August 28, 2004 is the day most Greek sports fans have marked on their calendar, when they hope to see local favourite Costas Kenteris repeat his Sydney success where he won gold.

Other sold out days include the basketball final on August 27 and the weightlifting finals in which Greece is expected to pick up medals.

The opening ceremony is sold out in all price categories but more expensive tickets may be left over for the closing setpiece.

Three million tickets have been made available to the general public while another 2,3 million have gone to sponsors, national Olympic committees and television rights holders for an estimated 80 million euros.

Domestic sales dominated the first phase with only 18 percent of applications coming from non-Greeks. Spectators from outside the European Union and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein must buy their tickets through their country's national Olympic committee.

After current ticket requests have been processed, all remaining seats will go on sale between September and February next year. Those who took part in the first round will get priority for more tickets in a 15-day period beginning on September 15 after which all left over seats will be offered to the general public.

ATHOC officials said the small proportion of sales to non-Greeks would be balanced by take up from international agencies and that the aim of the initial phase was to ignite home interest.

"We made a greater effort to market tickets to Greeks than other Europeans," said Simitsek.

The sale was backed by a huge cross media advertising campaign, costing more than 3 million euros, aimed at convincing Greeks, notorious for their late booking habits, to put in their requests early.

Organisers have repeatedly said the success of the games in the city where they were revived in 1896 depends on the participation of Greeks.