Australian Commonwealth Games champion Ollie Hoare has responded to reports he witnessed a murder on the streets of Glasgow. The 29-year-old, who won the 1500 metres title at the 2022 Games, said he did not see a fatal attack but encountered a police dispute while training with teammate Kyle Robinson.
Hoare Clarifies Reports
Speaking after competing in the men's mile heats, Hoare said: "No, no, I didn’t see a murder. The murder that was reported was six miles away and also at a different time." Media outlets had claimed he witnessed the aftermath of a fatal attack in the east end of the city on Friday during a training run.
Hoare explained: "We came across a police dispute. There were people walking around saying things. But I was never threatened. There was nothing heinous about what was happening. We were just running through, and there were some characters, and that was it."
Details of the Incident
When asked whether the individuals were carrying knives, Hoare said: "They looked like they were carrying something... There was police there. They were breaking up a dispute when Ky and I ran past and we didn’t even think to report it." His friend Jake Wightman, the Scottish 1500m runner staying in the same hotel as the Australians, added: "He saw someone with a knife. That was it."
The Australia team have been advised not to wear their kit in the city following the incident.
Broadcast Changes
The Commonwealth Games, now in its sixth day in Glasgow, is being shown behind a paywall for the first time in 72 years. TNT Sports secured live UK broadcast rights, ending the BBC's streak. Some coverage is available on BBC Alba and iPlayer between 5:30pm and 10pm each evening. The Games run until August 2, when the closing ceremony takes place at the OVO Hydro.
