Olympics: Anger as TV cameras miss flagbearer Beatrice

Television New Zealand has ruled out making any complaint over the failure of the host Olympic broadcaster to show flagbearer Beatrice Faumuina during the opening ceremony.

The broadcaster has received several complaints from viewers disappointed not to have seen Faumuina marching at the head of the New Zealand team.

Faumuina, who wore a traditional woven Maori cloak, was one of 95 New Zealand athletes marching in the ceremony. But she missed out when it came to the customary close-up shot of each country's flagbearer.

Unlike other flagbearers, who marched well ahead of their teams, Faumuina walked close to the others, making her difficult to distinguish.

A TVNZ spokeswoman said they understood the Greek broadcaster had planned to show Faumuina, but the discus thrower was not in shot as expected when cameras panned on to the team.

Executive producer Stu Dennison, who is co-ordinating TVNZ's Olympic coverage from Auckland, said the omission was "unbelievable".

"We're covered by the host broadcaster, so we've got no control over the pictures we get. The director must have had a rush of blood to the head. I think we were the only team that didn't get a shot of the flagbearer."

Dennison said he was hopeful a TVNZ news crew at the opening ceremony would have shot pictures of Faumuina "so we'll have something for posterity".