INDIA: Olympic gatecrasher apologises for "error of judgment" in Indiian parade in Olympic opening ceremony

Record ID: 331133

  • Title: INDIA: Olympic gatecrasher apologises for "error of judgment" in Indiian parade in Olympic opening ceremony
  • Date: 3rd August 2012
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) OLYMPIC GATECRASHER, MADHURA NAGENDRA, SAYING: "Considering the fact that it is a huge event they had thousands of people across the globe working towards it, in an error of judgment, I resulted in walking with the athletes in the eventuality I have hurt the sentiments of my people, my brothers and sisters for which I extend my apologies."
  • Embargoed: 18th August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA1XYQZEV8UI3GYNKUXP4XEI38N
  • Story Text: Indian woman regrets "error of judgment" for gatecrashing India's parade at the Olympic opening ceremony.

    The woman who gatecrashed India's parade at the Olympic opening ceremony apologised on Friday (August 3) for her "error of judgment" and said she did not breach security at the London Games.
    Madhura Nagendra, identified by local media as a Bangalore student, puzzled Indian officials in London by her unauthorised presence alongside flag-bearing wrestler Sushil Kumar.
    London 2012 chief Sebastian Coe confirmed her as a cast member and said she had been "slightly over-excited".
    "Considering the fact that it is a huge event they had thousands of people across the globe working towards it, in an error of judgment, I resulted in walking with the athletes in the eventuality I have hurt the sentiments of my people, my brothers and sisters for which I extend my apologies," Nagendra told reporters in Bangalore.
    "Of course I have realised the mistake. As a strong young individual I have come up in front of my whole country to apologise and tell them what has happened. I claimed that I have not breached the security, which was stated earlier in the media. I have not trespassed, I have not gate crashed. I am a part of the casting committee and accepting the fact that yes I have hurt the sentiments of my people, that is why I am coming across and I am telling my people that yes I understand it was a mistake and I apologise for the same," she added.
    Television pictures and photographs from last Friday's ceremony showed Nagendra walking in the Olympic Stadium dressed in red and blue, in complete contrast to the Indian contingent's female members who were wearing yellow saris and blue blazers.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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