SCORES of seats at the Commonwealth Games ceremony were left vacant after the event failed to sell out despite predictions of a full house on the night.
TV cameras of the centrepiece event at Celtic Park revealed gaps in the crowd in several areas where banks of the stadiums distinctive green seats were clearly visible.
Organisers had previously said only restricted seating remained, but tickets for the opening ceremony remained on sale hours before the Queen was due to launch the event. Five different categories were on sale, ranging in price from £20-£250.
It is understood they had been reserved for guests and athletes and some dancers among the 1,000 supporting cast.
Meanwhile, sporting champions and politicians were among those who made up the crowd and did take their seats.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted a selfie from inside Celtic Park alongside Commonwealth Games Minister Shona Robison, just 15 minutes before the ceremony, urging Team Scotland to "bring it on".
First Minister Alex Salmond also joined the festivities hours after welcoming the Prime Minister of Malta to a Commonwealth Games business conference at Glasgow University and meeting two of Team Pakistan's bowling hopefuls.
Also among the 40,000 strong crowd in stadium were Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minster Nick Clegg and Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander. In the build up, Olympian and Games chieftan Sir Chris Hoy and others spoke about their memories of the event.
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