BBC Olympics commentator apologises after talking over the national anthem before Team GB hockey game

A BBC Olympics commentator has apologised after talking over Great Britain's national anthem before the men's team played a hockey match versus Spain.

Kate Richardson-Walsh, a former Team GB hockey player who captained her team to gold in Rio 2016, was broadcasting live from the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium when she was asked a question by BBC presenter JJ Chalmers.

But the opening notes of 'God Save the King' began playing as Mr Chalmers asked the Rio 2016 flag bearer about the importance of the match, given the men's team had not brought home a gold medal since the Seoul 1988 Games.

Richardson-Walsh, 44, then responded but seemed to be aware that speaking over the national anthem would cause some offence. 

She replied: 'Yeah this is an incredibly important event and the anthems are just playing so I'm trying to be respectful of that as well, but that is a heavy load to bear.' 

Richardson-Walsh, who is the most capped female player in England's history with 375 appearances, then went on to describe the team's performances as 'fast, exciting, attacking hockey' and said she hoped that they would end up on the podium.

However Mr Chalmers did not relent despite the anthem continuing to play, asking: 'Apologies for crashing the anthem here but let’s just put this in context. 

'Three years ago they lost to India in the quarter-finals, but since then there’s been quite a lot of change to this squad.'

After the match ended successfully for Team GB, who thrashed Spain 4-0, Richardson-Walsh took to X, formerly Twitter, to apologise.

She wrote: 'I’m so sorry I was talking over the national anthems today before the GB v Spain Men’s hockey game on the BBC today.

'I felt all I could do was note my feelings and apologise. In hindsight perhaps I should have paused. Please know this completely cut across my values.'

Dozens of fans took to social media to defend her, with some suggesting she had fallen victim to production failings that had put her on the spot at the wrong moment. 

One user wrote: 'I watched this and you handled it professionally, made reference to it - don’t worry at all. You can’t always control when they’re going to ask you to broadcast. Keep up the good work, not an issue!

Another said: 'If you get any negative comments ignore them! A quick, genuine apology is more than enough. Enjoy the Games and we look forward to hearing your insights.' 

A third commented: 'Not your fault. The studio spent the 10 minutes prior to that talking to a chef & then crossed just as the anthems started! It’s the BBC producers/ directors that should apologise but they won’t as they seem to be prioritising celebrity over sport every chance they get.' 

The player-turned-broadcaster married her teammate Helen Richardson in 2013 and both changed their last names to Richardson-Walsh thereafter.

They became the first same-sex married couple to win gold at the Olympics after Britain beat defending champions Holland in a penalty shoot-out in Rio. 

They started their relationship just before the Beijing Games in 2008. 

The pair insisted their teammates saw them as just 'Helen and Kate the hockey players' rather than a couple. 

Kate Richardson-Walsh was awarded an MBE in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to hockey and an OBE in the 2017 New Year Honours, also for services to hockey.