Chinese couples queue for Olympic 'I do'

More than 1,000 Chinese couples queued for hours for marriage licenses to wed on August 8, the date of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, state media said on Saturday.

The couples crowded marriage registration offices on Friday, the Beijing Daily said, the first day that applications to get married on August 8 were being accepted.

The number eight is auspicious in Chinese, as it is pronounced like the word "fa", which is part of the expression meaning "to get wealthy".

"Chinese people are keen to tie the knot on an auspicious date," Xinhua news agency added. "The opening date of the Olympics adds new meaning.

"Marriage registration offices in Beijing predict more than 9,000 couples will get married on August 8 this year," it said.