Essay contest offers inaugural tickets

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Difficult-to-obtain tickets to witness U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration will be the prize of an essay contest, the inaugural committee said.

There's a potential catch -- participants will be encouraged to donate to the inauguration, although organizers said a contribution isn't required, USA Today reported.

Ten winners will get tickets to the Jan. 20 swearing-in, the parade and one of the official inaugural balls, officials said. In addition, winners will get airline tickets and hard-to-find hotel accommodations for two nights.

To qualify, entrants 18 and older must submit an essay on the question "What does this inaugural mean to you?" at www.pic2009.org/tickettohistory by midnight Jan. 8, organizers told the newspaper. Winners will be chosen by the inaugural committee's staff.

Inaugural committee spokeswoman Linda Douglass said fundraising efforts are "going well" and the committee's essay contest isn't an attempt to raise cash but give more people a chance to participate in Obama's swearing-in.

"This is a way of continuing to move toward our goal of involving as many people as possible," she said.