'Are you crazy?' - Olympic cameraman narrowly avoids catastrophic disaster in another Paris 2024 gaffe
The cameraman was oblivious to the ongoing race
BBC
A cameraman at the Paris Olympics narrowly avoided crashing into the entire field of the second men's 5,000m heat in chaotic scenes on Wednesday.
There have been a number of gaffes at the the Paris Olympics so far including wrong national anthems being played and cyclists mistakenly being made to ride two extra laps in a bizarre mix-up in the velodrome.
But none were more dangerous and concerning than what unfolded in the second men's 5,000m heat.
The first race saw Britain's George Mills take a tumble along with three other runners with less than 100m to go after a coming together.
The cameraman was oblivious to the ongoing race
BBC
A furious Mills confronted French athlete Hugo Hay at the finish line and shoved his rival before eventually being reinstated for the final.
But there was more drama in the second race, which included Norway superstar Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
The race had just passed the halfway mark with four laps remaining as runners jostled for position around the bend.
It wasn't the only athletics event going on in the stadium with the women's javelin qualifying also underway.
And that led to a near-disaster when a cameraman focusing on the javelin event was seemingly unaware that the 5,000m race was still ongoing.
The dozy cameraman was originally out of harms way in the middle of the track, but began walking forward just as the 5,000m runners approached him.
Miraculously, it appeared as though all the runners managed to avoid hitting the cameraman who was caught in the middle.
Ingebrigtsen was one of a few to run around the outside and looked back in anger as he ran past.
The BBC commentator noted that Ingebrigtsen signalled to say, "are you crazy?!"
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (circled) looked back in anger at the cameraman
BBC
The Norway runner, who is the strong favourite to win gold in the 5,000m event, comfortably won his heat to reach the final.
But he called out Paris officials after the athletes narrowly avoided what could have turned out to be a catastrophic result.
"It's amateurish," Ingebrigtsen said.
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Jakob Ingebrigtsen won his 5,000m heat
GETTY
"That should not happen in an Olympics.
"I was just far enough out in front to see that something or the other is happening.
"He has quite a large camera rig. He realised it quite quickly, but the damage is done.
"For some, their race is ruined."
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