Olympics viewers spot BBC gaffe live on TV moments before Keely Hodgkinson won 800m gold for Great Britain

Keely Hodgkinson won gold for Team GB in the women's 800m

Keely Hodgkinson won gold for Team GB in the women's 800m

REUTERS
Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 06/08/2024

- 08:33

Updated: 06/08/2024

- 08:36

Keely Hodgkinson ended her wait for a global title in emphatic fashion to win Olympic gold in the 800m final on Monday.

The BBC's coverage of Keely Hodgkinson's 800m gold at the Paris Olympics didn't go entirely to plan.

The 22-year-old ended her wait for a global title with an emphatic victory in the women's 800m final on Monday in Paris.


A silver medal in Tokyo was followed by the same prize at back-to-back World Championships in Eugene and Budapest.

But she was the strong favourite to win gold in Paris and the four-time British championduly delivered.

Keely Hodgkinson won gold for Team GB in the women's 800m

Keely Hodgkinson won gold for Team GB in the women's 800m

REUTERS

Hodgkinson's run in the 800m final was the main athletics event of the evening featuring a Brit with the BBC going big on the coverage.

Just minutes before the race started, the BBC cut to a feed of Hodgkinson's family and friends at Leigh Athletics Club.

Gabby Logan tried to get the attention of those at the club, but she was left trying to navigate an awkward segment as they didn't appear to be watching.

"There at Leigh Harriers, are her club who nurtured her talent, who have been with her all the way," Logan said on BBC.

"Hopefully they can see themselves, or they're watching another channel."

"Give us a wave Leigh Harriers. Maybe they're on the wrong channel.

"Will someone call them and let them know Keeley is about to run on BBC One?"

The gaffe led to many viewers suggesting that they were watching Eurosport's coverage instead of BBC.

The BBC cut to a feed of Leigh Athletics Club

The BBC cut to a feed of Leigh Athletics Club

BBC

One viewer joked: "Don’t want to risk having to switch to BBC2 while BBCOne cuts to the mixed doubles Greco-Roman Wrestling Repechage or another Adam Peaty film."

Another wrote: "That was hilarious."

A third posted: "Favourite moment of the night, after Keely bossing the race. The BBC have the best panel and the worst coverage!"

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Gabby Logan was unable to get a response from the club

Gabby Logan was unable to get a response from the club

BBC

One other message read: "They’re definitely watching the superior coverage on Eurosport."

But Logan claims they were watching the BBC and it was simply a significant delay that led to the awkward moment.

She added: "Apparently there was a very long delay."

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