Olympic Organizers Respond to Public Complaints of Empty Seats
A spectator sits amid empty seats at the All England Lawn Tennis Club during a match at the London 2012 Olympics Games July 28, 2012.
Organizers of the London Olympics are trying to calm public backlash over why there have been so many empty seats in the stands in the first days of competition.
Television images showed empty rows of seats at Wimbledon, the Aquatics Centre and other venues, prompting angry complaints from fans, like British schoolteacher Susie Chauvin, who were unable to purchase tickets.
"The empty seats are disappointing. We were watching on TV last evening, and I commented on the fact that there were loads of seats that were not filled. It is a shame that a lot of people like us missed out."
Day 2 of Competition
1/12Dana Vollmer of the U.S. reacts after winning the women's 100m butterfly final during the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre July 29, 2012. Vollmer set a world record with a timing of 55.98 seconds.
Fourteen gold medals were up for grabs on the second day of the London Olympic Games.
2/12Filipinos paddle on a small boat they made with used plastic bottles and other recycled materials to join a boat-making competition in Manila, Philippines.
Fourteen gold medals were up for grabs on the second day of the London Olympic Games.
3/12Ethiene Cristina Gonser Franco of Brazil (C) prays whilst teammate Harumy Mariko de Freitas performs on the balance beam during the women's gymnastics qualification at the North Greenwich Arena during the London 2012 Olympic Games July 29, 2012.
Fourteen gold medals were up for grabs on the second day of the London Olympic Games.
4/12China's Deng Linlin performs on the uneven bars during the women's gymnastics qualification at the North Greenwich Arena during the London 2012 Olympic Games July 29, 2012.
Fourteen gold medals were up for grabs on the second day of the London Olympic Games.
5/12Gabrielle Douglas of the U.S. performs on the balance beam during the women's gymnastics qualification at the North Greenwich Arena during the London 2012 Olympic Games July 29, 2012.
Fourteen gold medals were up for grabs on the second day of the London Olympic Games.
6/12Netherlands' Marianne Vos (L) reacts as she crosses the finish line ahead of Britain's Elizabeth Armitstead to win the women's cycling road race final at the London 2012 Olympic Games July 29, 2012.
Fourteen gold medals were up for grabs on the second day of the London Olympic Games.
7/12South Korea's Na Ah-reum signs in for the women's cycling road race final at the London 2012 Olympic Games July 29, 2012.
Fourteen gold medals were up for grabs on the second day of the London Olympic Games.
8/12South Korea's Choi Hyeonju fires an arrow in the women's archery team gold medal match at the Lords Cricket Ground during the London 2012 Olympic Games July 29, 2012. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (BRITAIN - Tags: SPORT OLYMPICS SPORT ARCHERY)
Fourteen gold medals were up for grabs on the second day of the London Olympic Games.
9/12China's Fang Yuting takes aim in the women's archery team gold medal match at the Lords Cricket Ground during the London 2012 Olympic Games July 29, 2012.
Fourteen gold medals were up for grabs on the second day of the London Olympic Games.
10/12Italy's Diego Occhiuzzi reacts defeating his compatriot Aldo Montano (not seen) during their men's sabre individual round of 16 fencing competition at the ExCel venue at the London 2012 Olympic Games July 29, 2012
Fourteen gold medals were up for grabs on the second day of the London Olympic Games.
11/12North Korea's An Kum Ae celebrates after defeating Cuba's Yanet Bermoy Acosta in their women's -52kg final judo match at the London 2012 Olympic Games July 29, 2012.
Fourteen gold medals were up for grabs on the second day of the London Olympic Games.
12/12Indonesia's Jadi Setiadi prepares to lift on the 56Kg Group B weightlifting competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games July 29, 2012.
Fourteen gold medals were up for grabs on the second day of the London Olympic Games.
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British Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt blamed sponsors for not filling their seats, but London organizing committee Chairman Sebastian Coe said it was mainly Olympic officials and athletes and their guests who had failed to show up.
There are 14 gold medals up for grabs in the second full day of competition. China saw gold early when Guo Wenjun defended her 10 meter air pistol shooting title, helping to extend the country's overall medal lead.
U.S. basketball stars also faced off against their French counterparts, as players like Miami Heat's LeBron James representing America beat the San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker, who is on his native France's team, 98 to 71.
Meanwhile, a failed drug test marred the opening of the women's gymnastics competition after Uzbek gymnast Luiza Galiulina tested positive for a banned diuretic.
The Games last through August 12. More than 10,000 athletes from around the world are competing in 26 sports.
