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Mark Humphrey / AP
An opening ceremony cast member walked with the Indian team during the Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Friday.
A woman managed to gatecrash the Indian Olympic team’s march round the stadium at the Games' opening ceremony, it has emerged.
The interloper –- said to be one of the thousands of volunteers who took part in the show –- walked alongside flag-carrier and wrestler Sushil Kumar at the head of the team at Friday's event, causing anger among Indian Olympic officials.
In stark contrast to the athletes, who were dressed in blue and yellow, the interloper was dressed in a red jacket and light-blue pants.
She also sported a broad smile in some of the photographs.
Sebastian Coe, chairman of Games organizers LOCOG, told the daily press conference Sunday that he could confirm “that she was a cast member [of the opening ceremony show], who clearly got slightly over-excited.”
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“I think there’s a very important point here to take into consideration – and I don’t minimize the fact she got into the Opening Ceremony – she could not have got in the opening ceremony without having gone through all our security protocols anyway,” Coe said.
“Don’t run away with the idea she had walked in off the street to do that,” he added.
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He said he would be speaking to Indian officials about what happened.
The Deccan Chronicle newspaper identified the woman as a graduate student from Bangalore, India.
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Indian Olympic official P.K. Muralidharan Raja was quoted by the paper as saying they had been "initially told that she would accompany the contingent ’til the track, but she went on to take the entire lap. There was another man also, but he stayed back and did not enter the stadium.”
Harpal Singh Bedi, Indian Olympic team press attache, told a press conference that the gatecrasher "not only walked, she led our contingent. It looked like she was the leader," according to an AP Television report.
"... if this had happened in India, people would say 'you don't know how to run the Games, security problems,' ... I think this was definitely a security lapse," he added.
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Leave a Comment:
Romney needs to stick the shaft up the UK news media. Security is a mess! What if this person had a bomb? I think the UK news media could be more ignorant than the US news media. But it would be close.
How is security a mess? A guide to the team guided the team farther than she was supposed to guide them. She wasn't just some strange person you wandered into the stadium. After she entered the stadium grounds, it was better to just let her continue as getting her off would make too much of a scene. My guess is that it was not made clear enough to her that she was not supposed to continue to guide them onto the track area. If this is the worst gaffe that the Olympics has, then they are doing pretty well given the size of the event.
First day, of Romney's Olympics, a bobsledder died on an unsafe track.
Chris-587843, I agree. She was part of their staff, not some random person that wandered there and could have been a security issue for the athletes.
She's cute and bold. I like her.
Remember when that couple crashed the White House and got a pic with VP Joe? Hilarious. So, unfortunately this girl, despite her efforts, will only walk away with the silver in party crashing. Better luck next time!
I don't see what the problem is...
The Olympic Motto is : Faster- Higher-Stronger
She was faster than the security
She got higher up in the Indian procession than most
She looks stronger than anyone on the Indian team
In all seriousness. With all the problems facing India at this moment in time, this Indian girl walking with their Olympic team gets their panties in a wad?
Seriously?
Manners and courtesy ARE important. She stole the special moment that the other had worked for for many years. She demeaned the moment.
IF you have ever done anything that required special effort and skill over a long time, you would understand.
You people take everything so friggin serious... The girl got excited and didnt pay attention when they told her to walk to the exit and then move to the side... Sheesh... I would've had a Kool-Aid smile too!!!
Ace
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Hmm - oblivious, spotlight-stealing, pale-blue-trousered clown... why, it's the female Homer Simpson!
It would have been funny if she was chewing gum and having a smoke during the parade..
Just another dumb Indian walking with the rest of the dumb Indians, big deal!
I wish she could have crashed, and derailed, the Phelps-Lochte train. These two guys are just a stain on the American bed sheets. They are either in this for the celebrity and fame or in it for the money and attention. Neither of them warrant the title: American Representative to the Olympics. Let this little Indian "crasher" have a go - she's more attractive than Hope Solo (which is undoubtedly how she "swings") and avoids press coverage when necessary!
Why did we have to listen to Ryan Seacrest instead of watching the tribute to the people killed during the London terror attacks. The singer was fantastic but we in the US were subjected to Ryan Seacrest's interview of Mike Phelps. What a miscue on the part of NBC. Here's link of what we missed in the US because of NBC's stupidity, http://deadspin.com/5929778/heres-the-opening-ceremony-tribute-to-terrorism-victims-nbc-doesnt-want-you-to-see.
Much ado about nothing. I hope she had a good time.
Despite the lack of the aweful clothes, you could tell she was not on the team, look at those fat chunky thighs. Did she not get the memo? Just because it zips, does not mean it fits.
Good for her...she was proud of her team...and smart enough to pull this off...ditto on I hope she had a good time.
So far as we know -
This girl crashes the opening march of nations - security keys lost - concession stands only taking cash because of on-line technical problems - when they run out of military, will Brits round up homeless people to "fill" empty seats.....?? Sure hope they ordered enough condoms for the athletes.
Mitt was right !! He ran an Olympics. He knew ! He just back-tracked to avoid insulting the Brits and be polite.
They better stick with tea and crumpets..... !
First day, of Romney's Olympics, a bobsledder died on an unsafe track.
Indian society (perhaps originating in the Hindu faith, which is widely practiced there) is based on "voluntary conformity", a concept closely related to "mental health".
There are consequences for every action. NAME HER. She wanted attention, let her have attention.
Let her name and profession and studies be known so any future employer can know that she cannot follow simple directions. That she is (smart enough to be a grad student) but not smart enough to understand that she is not an athlete. That she is not a responsible person. That her ego and desire for attention overshadows reason, rules, and protocol. Where were her Olympic credentials? They are REQUIRED to be visible at ALL TIMES! Sounds like a cover up to protect UK sloppiness.
Give her all the attention possible. That is what she wanted... Name HER !
It was one of the Doctor's many companions, he was the guy waiting in the back :D
Kind of reminds me of the time I was participating in a graduation (as an instructor with a Master's Degree. and wearing my university's colors on my hood) and a bunch of non-degreed administrative assistants showed up wearing Master's hoods that they had ordered because they thought it made them look "academic." Some honors have to be reserved for the people who have worked and sacrificed to earn them, and marching in the Walk of Athletes should be one of those things.