
She captured the mood of the nation after Sunday night’s Commonwealth Games closing ceremony on the Gold Coast, but now Channel Seven host Johanna Griggs has been forced to defend her anger at Games’ organisers.
On Sunday night, after footage from Games organisers provided to Channel Seven did not show athletes entering the stadium, nor inspirational paralympian Kurt Fearnley carrying the Australian flag, Griggs told viewers she was “furious” that the “tradition was wrecked”.
Now, however, Griggs has been forced to defend her anger after former Channel Seven sports presenter, now ABC journalist, Tracey Holmes, wrote a piece claiming Seven was given a “minute-by-minute briefing detailing how the closing ceremony would unfold”.
I reckon if I’d paid $40mil to be rights holder for Commonwealth Games and organisers told me I couldn’t broadcast the athletes & @kurtfearnley entering the stadium I’d be telling them, ‘watch this space’. #ClosingCeremony
— Tracey Holmes (@TraceyLeeHolmes) April 15, 2018
“Prior to the Gold Coast closing ceremony all rights holders, including Channel Seven, were given a minute-by-minute briefing on Saturday morning detailing how the closing ceremony would unfold — complete with a 34-page media guide,” Holmes wrote for the ABC.
“The guide makes no mention of athletes marching in as part of the ceremony. Organisers confirmed Channel Seven had a number of representatives at that briefing.”
Griggs said Holmes was “having a crack at my integrity”.
About to send out a statement to absolutely clarify some vey dubious & incorrect accusations made by someone with a very old axe to grind!
— Johanna Griggs (@JohGriggs7) April 16, 2018