Olympic organizers say they're going for the gold--auctioning off tickets for the 2002 Olympic Games on the Internet.

Organizers announced their ticket plan this week and they hope the Internet Ticket Auction will make a big splash. Here with details--News Specialist John Daley.

Organizers say the advantages to this idea are huge: One, they think it'll discourage scalpers; and, more importantly, help them raise some much-needed revenue.

Want to see the opening ceremonies? How about the marquis events--the women's figure skating finals, or the men's hockey gold medal game? There's now a guarantee you can do that, if you're willing pay enough cash. This week, organizers announced their ticket plan: For what appears to be the first time ever for a major event, tickets will be sold via internet auction.

Fraser Bullock/SLOC Chief Operating Officer: "WE THINK THE INCENTIVE TO BID ON TICKETS EARLY IS ASSURITY OF GETTING. THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT YOU'LL GET A TICKET."

Mitt Romney/SLOC President: "I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE OUT THERE WHO'S DONE WHAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT DOING WITH TICKETS TO AN EVENT WITH REGARDS TO INTERNET AUCTIONS."

At previous Olympic Games, the only way to guarantee you could get a ticket was to be willing to pay scalpers. Organizers see the Internet Auction as an excellent way to reduce scalping and potentially make millions of dollars. Internet expert Tom Gay says on-line auctions are the wave of the future, not just for big sporting events, but concerts and other shows. And he says the profit potential is enormous.

Tom Gay/Inetz: "YOU'RE OPENING TO SO MANY MORE THOUSANDS, POTENTIALLY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. SO WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT'S A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY IF YOU'RE TRYING TO RAISE CAPITAL THAT WAY."

But as for discouraging scalping, he predicts scalpers too will go on-line, setting up bogus Olympic ticket web sites.

Tom Gay/Inetz: "THERE MIGHT BE SOME LOST MONEY FOR QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT PEOPLE TRYING TO JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON, TRYING TO GET TO THE OLYMPICS AS EASY AS POSSIBLE."