UK forces used as Olympic seat fillers

On Sunday morning July 29, 0ver 50 soldiers took seats on at the North Greenwich Arena, hosting artistic gymnastics, trampoline gymnastics and the basketball finals during the Games.

Some of the troops said they were offered courtside seats at the basketball arena to watch the US vs. France game, while they were scheduled to start shifts to provide the Olympics security.

“We’re seat fillers. They asked who likes basketball and we put our hands up,” said one of the soldiers drafted on Sunday afternoon.

However, Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), said, “Let’s put this in perspective. Those venues are stuffed to the gunnels.”

On Saturday July 28, the first day of the Games, the empty seats were spotted in several disciplines including swimming, volleyball, badminton, gymnastics, handball and basketball. Moreover, on the second day of the sports event, seats at the aquatics centre, gymnastics arena and basketball venue went unused.

The Games’ organizers were forced to launch an investigation into the disappointing spectacle after blocks of empty seats at supposedly “sold out” events caused public outrage.

“It’s a shame this happened, but we are going to do everything we can to make sure we fill up these stadia,” Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said.

SSM/HN/HE

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