BEIJING (AP):

After the first few days of the Beijing Games, some cracks have appeared in China's perfect party - empty seats at the venues, disappointing crowds at the Olympic grounds, ticket scalping, a lack of buzz around the city and even official acknowledgment of trickery during the opening ceremony.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials urged Beijing organisers Tuesday to let more people into the Olympic Green - the centrepiece zone of the games where most of the main venues are located - and find ways to fill up the arenas.

Great opportunity

"We've been saying, 'You're missing a great opportunity to get more of your people in here to celebrate your games,"' said Kevan Gosper, vice-chairman of the IOC's coordination commission for Beijing. "I would want to stress how important it is for the host city that the venues are seen to be full and everybody has the opportunity to enjoy the festivities."

Wang Wei, spokesman for the Beijing organising committee, acknowledged there were not enough people in the green and organisers were encouraging more to come.

Wang said about 40,000 people passed through the area on Monday. The IOC suggested the figure should be increased to up to 200,000 daily and that organizers issue more passes to allow visitors into the green, which covers 2,856 acres (1,156 hectares) in northern Beijing.

"We have taken this up with organisers and the politicians," IOC marketing commission chairman and executive board member Gerhard Heiberg told The Associated Press. "They have promised an improve-ment today and further improvement tomorrow. We hope this is going to take place. We need more people to have a higher atmosphere."

Among those affected were the Olympics' global sponsors, who are each paying tens of millions of dollars to be associated with the games but have complained that few visitors have been let through to see their pavilions.

Tight security

"When I went out, there was a small trickle of people walking through," US IOC member Bob Ctvrtlik said. "Access is difficult and security is incredibly tight. At some venues it's surprising when there have been sellouts and you see quite a few empty seats. At the stadiums you need warm enthusiastic crowds to help create an atmosphere for athletes to perform at their best."

The situation seemed to improve throughout the day Tuesday.

"I just went to volleyball and it was absolutely rocking," Ctvrtlik said after watching the U.S.-Italy and Brazil-Serbia men's games. "It was filled. It was a great atmosphere."