Broadcaster apologises for camera operator walking on to track during 5,000m race

PARIS : The official Olympic broadcaster (OBS) apologised on Thursday for a camera operator obstructing runners in a Paris Games 5,000 metres heat when he walked on to the track during the race.

In Wednesday's race, the camera operator was unaware that the runners in the second heat of Round 1 were approaching quickly when he walked straight into their path with his back turned to them, forcing them to sidestep him and narrowly avoiding a collision.

OBS said it had apologised to World Athletics and Paris 2024 Games organisers for the incident.

"The OBS team will be extra diligent and take additional measures to avoid any interference by the OBS team with competing athletes," it said in a statement.

One of the most famous incidents involving a camera operator was at the 2015 world championships in Beijing when Usain Bolt of Jamaica was knocked over from behind by a cameraman on a Segway immediately after the men's 200m final.