JINAN, Shandong province: The Olympic shooting champions will not be able to receive standing ovation from audience at the upcoming National Games shooting tournament as organisers have decided not to sell tickets for the bonanza event amid security fears.

"The shooting venue is kind of small and it involves guns and bullets, which caused security fears for the organisers," said Chen Hongbo, a tournament official told Xinhua on Thursday.

"The spectators` stands are not big enough, and they should be distributed for media use and special guests," he added.

Shooting might become a full-capacity event with Olympic winners including Du Li, Pang Wei and Zhu Qinan gunning for glory on behalf of respective hometowns at the nationwide competition.

The decision is not good news for those athletes` relatives or friends who plan to give cheer on the spot. "Three of my friends have planned to come and watch but now I`m afraid that I have to fight alone," an unnamed athlete told Xinhua outside the venue.

The shooting tournament, boasting 18 medals at the Oct. 16-28 Games, has attracted a total of 500 top shooters or so.

The National Games officially opens in Jinan, capital city of east China`s Shandong on Oct. 16.