GAMES organisers are targeting Sydney's record of ticket sales for a major sporting event.

The 2000 Olympics in Australia saw an unprecedented 94% of tickets sold, and the figure for Manchester stood today at 90% of the one million tickets which originally went on sale.

That could change, however, with 30,000 tickets sold so far this week and more becoming available because of changes in seat configurations.

Niels de Vos, commercial director of Manchester 2002, said: "The record of 94% was set in Australia for the Sydney Olympics, and we are now scouring to find whatever tickets we can to be added to the allocation to try to beat that.

"In response to incredible public demand, we have made sure that absolutely every unused seat comes back to the public for sale."

Some of the new seats which have now come up for sale originate from the 250,000 kept back for sale overseas in competitor countries, for sponsors, media and

seat kills', and where there were worries over sightlines or obstructions.

The most expensive tickets were £195 for the opening ceremony, and organisers had managed sell all but 200 of the 6,200 of those before today.

The tickets still available range from £5 for table tennis, netball, hockey and wrestling to £165 for the closing ceremony.

Tickets can be bought on website www.commonwealthgames.com HERE or by calling 0870 162 2002. They can be picked up at the venue box office before the event.