Organisers investigate empty seats at Olympic venues

The Olympic Games' organisers Locog have launched an investigation into empty seats at venues on the Olympic Park.

The minister responsible for the Olympics, Jeremy Hunt said he was 'very disappointed' by the number of empty seats.

Locog are doing a full investigation into what happened, I think it was accredited seats that belonged to sponsors, but if they're not going to turn up, we want those tickets to be available for members of the public, because that creates the best atmosphere

Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said he was surprised that the events were not full.

In the Aquatic Centre - which saw a surprise visit by the Queen - there were hundreds of empty seats despite all public tickets having been sold.

In a statement Locog said,

Where there are empty seats, we will look at who should have been sitting in the seats, and why they did not attend. Early indications are that the empty seats are in accredited seating areas, but this is day one, and our end of day review will provide a fuller picture of attendance levels across all our venues.

Empty seats were also seen at Wimbledon, the volleyball at Earl's Court and the gymnastics at the O2.

We are aware that some venues have empty seats this morning.

We believe the empty seats are in accredited seating areas, and we are in the process of finding out who should have been in the seats and why they weren't there.

Journalists who saw Michael Phelps suffer his first Olympic defeat in eight years couldn't help but notice the number of empty seats in the Aquatic Centre.

This Aquatics Centre should have been rammed for that race but there are empty seats everywhere. Stewards' Inquiry!

From @_PaulHayward on Twitter: ( 6:40 pm, Sat 28 Jul 2012)

Are there a lot of people in white at the swimming or are there more empty seats?

From @markchapman on Twitter: ( 6:45 pm, Sat 28 Jul 2012)

Olympic fans have expressed their disappointment as many failed to get tickets for events.

I thought the least I could do was go and see them (the gymansts) and I'm watching them on television and the place is half empty and that's a shame. I would have paid whatever it takes to see them

I've been trying and trying every day to get football tickets for Argentina

London 2012 chairman Lord Coe has previously threatened to name and shame companies which do not use their tickets

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