Peter Beattie will apologise to Australian flagbearer Kurt Fearnley after the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games ended without the athletes at the forefront.
The closing ceremony has been criticised as underwhelming, with presenters from broadcast rights holders the Seven Network slamming organisers for not providing vision of athletes entering Carrara Stadium.
The decision denied television viewers the chance to watch inspirational para-sports veteran Fearnley carry the flag into the venue.
Fearnley, who won gold in the men’s wheelchair marathon, received a rousing ovation as he led the Australian team into the stadium on Sunday.
Organising committee chairman Beattie said the decision was made to limit the time athletes, many of whom were fatigued from competition, had to wait outside the stadium.
“Having them come into the stadium in the pre-show meant the TV audience were not able to see the athletes enter the stadium, alongside flag bearers. We got that wrong,” he tweeted on Monday.
“This decision to bring the athletes into the stadium before the broadcast was operationally driven given there were restrictions on being able to keep the athletes waiting in comfort.
“We were driven by the welfare of athletes.”
Beattie also conceded speeches went for too long.
“The speeches were too many and too long. I was part of that and I acknowledge it. Again, we got that wrong,” he said.
“It is very simple. I should not have spoken.”
The former Queensland premier did the rounds on breakfast television taking responsibility, saying he will contact Fearnley to apologise.
He was hopeful the finale did not detract from organisers’ efforts to put on a successful Games.
Seven presenter Johanna Griggs, a 1990 Commonwealth Games swimming bronze medallist, teed off at organisers after viewers initially expressed frustration with the broadcaster when athletes were left out.
“We can only show the pictures that are provided by the actual host broadcasters. They made a decision not to have athletes enter the stadium,” Griggs said on Seven on Sunday.
“They made the decision not to show the flagbearers.
“I’m furious. Actually wrecking a tradition that is so important.
“You want to see the athletes come in. You want to see them jumping in front of camera. You want to see them celebrating 11 days of great sport.
“We missed out on all of that.”
The ceremony has been described as lacking star power even with sprinting legend Usain Bolt hitting the DJ decks and dancing with mascot Borobi during the spectacle.
Large sections of seating were empty while a number of athletes slipped away to the bar before the ceremony had reached its halfway point.
Australia blitzed the medal tally with 80 gold, matching its haul in 1998 to make it the country’s fourth most successful Commonwealth Games behind Victoria, Canada (87 gold, 1994), Melbourne (84, 2006) and Manchester (82, 2002).
BigJ
Roar Guru
Ok, after going on late night talk back radio, last night on the triple M network and bagging out Beattie for yet another embarrassing moments on national tv, he has earnt the "Idiot of the week" Award. last week its was Connor McGregor, this week its Beattie. After my fired up rant I have come to the conclusion that there are only two people in the workforce, those who respect there jobs, and those who don't. Liking ones job and respecting ones job are two different things. Here is my point, you can hate your job, like most of us do, but you still turn up on time, do your job to the best of your ability, learn everything you can to increase your knowledge of that job to get a well deserved paycheck. Beattie does not even know that the Sharks are from Cronulla, nor the difference between a Newcastle Knights jersey and a Euorpean Soccer jersey, what an idiot!!. The man is in charge of the NRL, wouldn't you think that lesson 101 is to learn, what teams are in the competition, where they come from and what their Jerseys look like? I know that this can be confusing as they change virtually every week now but he should know or be told about this. Beattie may love his job but he does not respect it enough even to learn the fundamental basics of the game and who he is representing to try to improve the game. He did the same with the Commonwealth games, no respect for the job. Here is a solution, I'll gladly sit down with Beattie, explain to him who are all the teams in the NRL, their locations, what their colours look like and thanks to my top ten articles I even give him an insight to their all time best players. I find it impossible that a man that ran the state of qld for near a decade is too arrogant to learn the basic details of his new job. Time for a lesson Mr Beattie, before you stuff up the NRL as well.
JB
Guest
Peter Beattie should be sacked as chairman of NRL.
Matt H
Roar Guru
But at least there will be plenty of apologies. This was his MO as premier - it doesn't matter how s#$t you are as long as you say sorry straight away.
Big Daddy
Guest
Pretty well sums up the chanel 7 coverage.
Gyfox
Guest
So Beattie is now in charge of the NRL. After last night's "ceremony" we can be sure that the NRL downward spiral will continue!