OLYMPIC organisers say that 3,000 tickets not taken up by international federations were put pack on sale last night.

Locog's director of communications and public affairs Jackie Brock-Doyle was responding to a public outcry after fans, frustrated at not being able to get tickets, saw TV pictures showing hundreds of empty seats left vacant at events over the weekend.

She said: "We've talked to international federations yesterday and we were able to put back into the pot for sale about 3,000 last night. They've all been sold."

Around 600 came for gymnastics, with more on offer for swimming and equestrianism amongst others.

She said that more tickets would be released each evening on a "day by day basis" via Ticketmaster in an online-only sale, particularly in the early stages of the Games.

Where seats are in security areas, these will go to soldiers, teachers and children.

She said: "We really are dong the best we can but it's not an exact science."