Swim champion Hackett blocked from Olympic village filled with imposters
SYDNEY, Sept 18 (AFP) - Champion Australian swimmer Grant Hackett has been denied entry to the Olympic athlete’s village because too many fake Hacketts were inside.
The Australian Olympic Committee said Monday that Hackett, the 1500m favourite, was brushed aside because other ‘Grant Hacketts’ had already been granted access after showing security staff fake accreditations bearing his name and photo.
“I understand that Grant Hackett was met at the entrance and escorted to a security officer to double-check his pass and then they said ‘thank you very much for your co-operation’, and made sure that he wasn’t inconvenienced in getting to a dining hall,” said AOC assistant chef de mission Michael Wenden.
“And although there was a hiccup in the system, the extent of it was very minor and I think it was remedied quite quickly.
“I think there was a small glitch in their security system. That’s what I’m led to believe.”
Wenden was responding to a newspaper report that fellow Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe was denied entry to the village for similar reasons after winning two gold medals in world record time on Saturday night.
“The standing is that reporting in the press this morning was erroneous,” Wenden said.
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