London Olympics 2012: Soldiers filling empty seats at the Games

What was supposed to be a full day of work for 150 British soldiers has turned into an afternoon watching women's gymnastics.

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Staff Sgt. Marc Robson of the 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery said he was told on Sunday to send the soldiers to the North Greenwich Arena for the qualifications rounds. He said he's rotating soldiers in and out, and those outside the arena are performing their security tasks as planned.

The move came after Olympic organisers were criticised for the number of empty seats seen on television.

Robson said the troops were enjoying themselves.

"I was told to let the boys come in and enjoy the show," Robson said. "Look at them, they seem to be liking it just fine."

Indian tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi had earlier remarked on social media that he had extreme difficulties to get a ticket of his match for his wife.

He said, "Been trying for 6 hours now to buy my wife a ticket to watch me play tomorrow. Still no luck, and the grounds here feel empty. ABSURD!!!"

Earlier, the chairman of the London Olympics, Sebastian Coe, insisted on Sunday that most venues were full of spectators as organisers launched a probe into blocks of empty seats at some events. (Read here)

Coe said unoccupied seats at some venues were due to accredited officials still working out which events to attend and planning their timetable, but he said he had visited four events on Saturday which were full to capacity.

"Let us put this in perspective. Those venues are stuffed to the gunnels. The public are in there," Coe told journalists.

"There are tens of thousands of people at this moment within the accredited 'family' that are trying to figure out what their day looks like, where they are going to be asked to go to, frankly working out how you divide your time.

"Certainly this is not going to be an issue through the Games.

(Agency inputs AFP and AP)