Olympic organizers investigate empty seats

In this photo provided by LOCOG, Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, appears during the All the Bells event at HMS Belfast, to celebrate the first day of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on Friday July 27, 2012, in London. AP/LOCOG, Anthony Charlton

LONDON – Olympic organizers were investigating how rows of seats at some venues were left empty on the first full day of competition at the London Games.

Britain’s Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Saturday’s empty seats at venues including the Acquatics Centre were “very disappointing” and stadiums should be full to improve the atmosphere for athletes and spectators.”

London organizers, he said, “are doing a full investigation into what happened.” Hunt said he believes the empty seats belonged to sponsors.

The London Games organizing committee said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press it was looking into “who should have been sitting in the seats, and why they did not attend.”