‘Games are about people who watch it as well’

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Sydney: Briton Steve Redgrave criticised the Olympic medals ceremony at the Sydney regatta on Saturday, moments after receiving his fifth consecutive gold medal.

Redgrave, 38, and crew members Matthew Pinsent, Tim Foster and James Cracknell, ignored pleas from organisers to move straight to the waiting media after their victory by 0.38 seconds over Italy in the men's coxless fours final.

Instead, they did a victory lap along the other side of the 2,000-metre course, giving something back to the delighted sell-out crowd of 22,500. "It can wait. Didn't they say in the opening ceremony that this was the athletes' games? We'll be there when we're ready," Redgrave said after climbing out of his boat.

Officials had been keen to usher the British to speak briefly to the waiting media before taking part in the medals ceremony. Britain's Princess Anne presented the medals and International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch was also on hand, waiting to give Redgrave a special commemorative pin.

"I wasn't overly happy with the way the medals ceremony was done. There was a few points that could have made it much more special for the athletes and a lot more special for the crowd," Redgrave said.

"We were very lucky that we were the last medal race of the day so we had the opportunity, or we took the opportunity, to do things a little bit differently." Redgrave said people had paid a lot of money to watch the rowing and it should be made special for them.

"The sport is not just about the competitors, it's certainly not just about the media; it's about the people who come and watch it as well."



(c) Reuters Limited.