Olympic gatecrasher: Woman was cast member says Seb Coe

16:40 • 29.07.12



The woman who appeared in India's Olympic contingent in the opening ceremony was a cast member in the event, London 2012's Seb Coe has said.

 

She was a cast member who got "slightly over-excited", he told journalists at the daily Olympic news conference, BBC reports.
Indian team officials were angered by the woman's presence and are seeking an apology.

 

She became known as "the woman in red" because of the colour of the top she was wearing.
Lord Coe said: "We have been looking at security but she didn't just walk in off the street. She was a cast member who got slightly over-excited.

 

"She shouldn't have been there but she clearly started in that venue. I will be speaking to the Indian delegation."
In contrast to the Indian team's yellow saris or blue blazers, her red top made her stand out as she walked next to India's flag-bearer, wrestler Sushil Kumar.

 

"This was bizarre. We will ask for an apology," India's chef de mission, PKM Raja, told the Times of India.
"The Indian contingent was shown for just 10 seconds and to think this lady hogged all the limelight."
He added: "When we were entering the stadium, a member of the organising committee or some security guy asked to be in front of us. We thought the woman was part of Locog.

 

"When we entered the stadium, the woman who was walking between us and the contingent ahead of us, the Independent Olympic Athletes, suddenly came back and started walking next to Sushil Kumar, our flag-bearer.

 

"We are totally surprised by the manner in which she joined the delegation and kept walking inside the stadium," he said.
He told the newspaper that he was not sure of the woman's nationality.

 

He said the woman "embarrassed us in front of the world".
Several newspapers claim to have identified the woman in question as a post-graduate from Bengaluru, India. However this remains unconfirmed.

 

India is fielding 81 athletes at the London Games, with medal hopes in archery, boxing, badminton, shooting, tennis and wrestling.

 

Olympic organisers Locog have said they will release a statement shortly.
 

Armenian News - Tert.am





LATEST NEWSAll Today news

17:40 • 18/05

200 Ceasefire violations reported this week

17:30 • 18/05

Decision to bring killed soldier to Yerevan was instructed, says Defense Ministry rep.

16:27 • 18/05

N. Korea fires short-range missiles

15:55 • 18/05

Saudi woman reaches Everest summit

15:47 • 18/05

Serj Tankian congratulates Dorians on Eurovision success

15:36 • 18/05

Azeri FM to head to Moscow for official visit

15:21 • 18/05

Football: Shirak to host Tbilisi’s Dinamo

15:05 • 18/05

Man who shot Armenian conscript to face criminal charges

14:10 • 18/05

Meteor slams into moon causing explosion

13:58 • 18/05

Conscripts killed in roadway crash in Azerbaijan

13:27 • 18/05

Gas price hike plan aimed to pressure Armenia – statement

12:48 • 18/05

Haykakan Zhamanak: Armenia gives up new nuke plant plan?

12:27 • 18/05

Christoph Waltz left shaken after man points hand-gun at him, threatening to blow up studio (video)

12:05 • 18/05

Protest over killed conscript's death averted; family returning to village (update 6, photos)

11:32 • 18/05

Same-sex marriage legalized in France as Hollande signs bill

11:23 • 18/05

Europe car sales break losing steak

11:15 • 18/05

Zhoghovurd: Circle around Karabakh conflict getting tight

10:55 • 18/05

US criticizes Russia over missiles

10:49 • 18/05

Greeks, Armenians call for conditions on Turkey trade deal

10:27 • 18/05

Dozens reported injured in US train crash

23:18 • 17/05

No liberation without struggle - Zhirair Sefilyan

19:42 • 17/05

NKR Foreign Ministry delegation participating in the anniversary events in Abkhazia

19:34 • 17/05

Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs meet in Poland: press release put out

19:17 • 17/05

Spayka cold storage insured, executive director says

18:30 • 17/05

Armenian MP speaks of agricultural problems



ArmeniaRegionPress digestWorldBusinessEventScience/techCultureSportsLifestyle