Posted on 07/29/2012 9:07:12 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
London 2012 organisers promised an investigation after thousands of empty seats were visible at some of the most popular Olympic venues.
Rows of vacant spots were seen at swimming heats, volleyball, gymnastics and dressage events on the opening day of the Games - with “no shows” by Olympic officials, athletes and members of the media blamed.
The London 2012 organising committee (Locog) said most of the empty seats were not those sold to members of the public, but had been reserved for members of the “Olympic family.”
Sports fans complained in the wake of the great difficulty members of the public had in obtaining tickets for events after they originally went on sale. Many of the estimated one million-plus spectators lining the route of the men’s cycling road race yesterday said they had been unsuccessful in attempts to buy tickets for other events.
One, Alex Batchelor, wrote: “Can anyone explain why there are lots of empty seats? Tried repeatedly to get tickets without success.”
Organisers said last night that the public areas at the Aquatics Centre at the Olympic Park in Stratford, dressage in Greenwich Park, tennis at Wimbledon and volleyball at Earls Court and Horse Guards Parade were all full. '’The public areas at all of the venues are packed and rocking,’’ a Locog spokesman said.
'’It is accredited areas for sponsors, media, international federations and even the support staff for those that are competing that are looking a bit sparse.’’
During morning swimming heats at the Aquatic Centre there were an estimated 500 seats in one “block” alone, while there were thought to be more than 1,000 seats vacant at the gymnastics, despite would-buyers being told sessions were sold out.
Lord Coe, the chairman of Locog, had pledged to address the issue, which had plagued
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
The people destined to sit in those seats paid taxes too. And they actually worked their asses off to help produce them if I understand it clearly.
Having been in Los Angeles when we had the games here years ago, there is always more demand for seats than there are seats.
As I stated earlier, I’m more open to the idea of there being too many such seats than my playing the devil’s advocate will make it look like.
I appreciate the comments.
Looking at the photo I think the reason some seats are empty is because spectators fled seeing what looks like UFO’s hovering over the pool. /sarc
At the time that photo was taken at the swim pool, do you know what event was taking place? Was it a final medal event? Was it elimination heats?
Has anyone given thought to the idea it may have been Michelle Obama’s entourage that didn’t show up and sit in all those empty seats.
This reminds me of Speaker of the House Jim Wrighht’s best selling book that made him so much money.
Actually members of the IOC crime family don't do that much work (or pay that many taxes), they are the community organisers.
I bet everyone that paid for a ticket showed up.
LOL, good one. Probably some truth in that too.
I was thinking U. N. types earlier.
For all we know, those shots were earlier last week, and not what they’re being described as.
I’m just tired of being gamed by one group after another.
You folks may be right for all I know.
As I understand it, those were seats handed out to sponsors, etc., rather than sold, per-se; much like season-ticket seats or sky boxes, etc at regular sporting events.
If an ass isn’t seated in it, it is the business of the ass holding the ticket. Why throw more good money after bad to “investigate” why people decided not to show up? How does that make one a shill?
But, then, AFAIC, since I’m not a jock worshiper, the Olympics are just an expensive PITA.
That's half the stadium. The "Organising Committee" is full of crap. People just don't want to pay to see the Olympics anymore. Especially when there are re-runs of Pawn Stars on TV.
yitbos
I doubt that all those empty seats are “corporate sponsors who did not show up”
Truth is that a lot of those tickets were not sold....better...those tickets were never “bought”
No secret that Europe is having major economic problems. Not only the Brits are not buying the tickets...other Euros and non-Brits are not buying them either
Beleive me, a Corporate Sponsor of an Olympic event or seating plan is not going to let all those seats go to waste. If they have to give them to their lowest ranking employee...they will do so
Athens in 2004 had the same problems....many empty seats. At least they were honest about it...they could not sell the tickets
In Vancouver 2010 for the Winter Olympics....they were great in getting all the unsold seats at venues made available. I made sure I got to the Visitors Center early so that I could get tickets when they opened at 8AM. I managed to get hard-to-find curling tickets
That’s correct. And they have no value to those receiving them, because they didn’t pay for them. Same with all the free stuff given in this Country. A few years back my sister-in-law bought a bag full of groceries and gave to a homeless man at an intersection. Later than evening she went by and he was gone but the groceries were tossed over the guardrail.
People generally think less of freebies than things they have to pay for. It looks like the paying customers are there (hopefully) getting their money's worth.
That's because back in 1990 East Germany joined West Germany and not the other way around.
Sponsors and Federations get tickets like that all of the time. They are the tickets those organization use for promotional and incentive purposes.
The reason why they did not show?
With the trouble getting to venues and a fear of terrorism....who the hell would want to go. Not I.
Are their tickets transferable? You would think they could make a nice tidy little profit by selling them to someone who actually wanted to watch the even.
that should be “event” at the end of the sentence.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.