Boat ahoy! Race start messed up by floating cameras

Chaotic: The men’s triathlon event at Odaiba Marine Park’s bizarre start sent dozens of competitors into the water only to have others stuck on the dock, helplessly blocked by a boat containing cameras that got in the way. — Reuters

TOKYO: The men’s Olympic triathlon suffered a rare and embarrassing false start as half the field dived in while the others were blocked by a media boat, leading to frantic action by a mini-flotilla of boats and jet skis to haul back swimmers.

Fifty-six men lined up on a pontoon in Tokyo Bay for the 06.30 local start but as the starter sent them away for the opening 1,500 metre swim leg, around a third found their way blocked by a camera boat.