London 2012 Olympics venues still showing empty seats – in pictures

British soldiers watch gymnast Simona Castro Lazo of Chile perform in the artistic gymnastics Photograph: Gregory Bull/AP

Former British prime minister John Major and his wife Norma watch the men's synchronised 10m platform diving final Photograph: Paul Hackett/Reuters

The VIP seats were half empty during the France v Australia women's basketball game Photograph: Antonio Olmos

Empty stands during the women's football match between Japan and South Africa, at the Millennium stadium in Cardiff Photograph: Luca Bruno/AP

Spectators sit among empty seats before Egypt's group C men's football match at Old Trafford Photograph: Jon Super/AP

Children yawn behind rows of empty seats during the women's table tennis singles competition Photograph: Sergei Grits/AP

Empty seats at Wimbledon's Centre Court during the first round match in the women's tennis singles Photograph: Rebecca Naden/PA

Two boys share a chair amid empty seats at a basketball game Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian

Empty seats at the swimming heats at the Aquatics Centre Photograph: Matt Sprake/Matt Sprake/NOPP

Banks of empty seats at Greenwich Park for the equestrian competition Photograph: Antonio Zazueta Olmos

Empty seats with few spectators during the tennis competition at Wimbledon Photograph: ANDY RAIN/EPA

Spectators pack the back rows behind empty seats a men's volleyball match Photograph: Chris O'Meara/AP

Army personnel take up some empty seats at the badminton competition in Wembley Arena Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

Spectators shield themselves from rain during the equestrian eventing individual dressage competition in Greenwich Park Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters