They spoke mostly in English - with various accents - and sometimes in broken Mandarin.

The Chinese scalping fraternity was of a similar size to the international group and had an equally diverse membership, with accents from across China clearly heard.

The difference between the two, it seemed, was that the foreigners had access to the really big spenders.

"We can't beat them because we can't speak a foreign language," a scalper with the surname Liu from Xi'an, Shaanxi province, said.

"But we just don't know how they manage to get so many tickets."

Ticket scalping is illegal in China, and BOCOG, the Games organizers, has introduced a number of measures to try and stop the traders.

Recently, police arrested a group of Chinese scalpers right in front of their foreign counterparts, Liu said.

"The police don't care about the foreigners, but they keep a close eye on us," he said.

A police officer on patrol near Beitucheng, who refused to give his name, said most of the people in the area were just "swapping tickets or selling them at a reasonable price".

Shortly after, a China Daily reporter was approached by a Chinese couple touting a pair of tickets for a finals day at the Bird's Nest for the very unreasonable price of 5,000 yuan.

Despite that, local media reported recently that Beijing police authorities are screening all information posted on the websites 263.com and 58.com, whose forums are frequented by local scalpers.

【体坛英语资讯：Business booming for touts】相关文章：

★ 体坛英语资讯：Davenport stung by one-sided Cup loss

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Jolie, Pitt named best dressed couple

★ 体坛资讯：Zhu unfazed by ZZ suspension

★ 体坛英语资讯：Capello greeted with cheers and jeers

★ 体坛英语资讯：Lakers head for record 29th NBA Finals

★ 体坛英语资讯：One injured on second day of Argentine soccer violence

★ 体坛英语资讯：Djokovic tames Tsonga, Sun crowned with Serbian partner

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Anne Hathaway is the new ambassador for Lancome

★ 体坛资讯：Richards to meet an example, Liu Xiang to set an example

★ 体坛英语资讯：McGrady, Yao lead Rockets to win