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Aussies earn wrath of Spain for national anthem mix up
Melbourne, Nov 28: Spain was left fuming and demanding a government apology after the wrong Spanish anthem was played at today`s opening ceremony for the Davis Cuptennis final against Australia.
Melbourne, Nov 28: Spain was left fuming and demanding a government apology after the wrong Spanish anthem was played at today`s opening ceremony for the Davis Cup
tennis final against Australia.
Juan Antonio Gomez-Angulo, the Secretary of State for Sport in Spain, demanded an official apology after the embarrassing mix-up in which the anthem of Spain`s first republic, the Himno De Riego, was played instead of the current national anthem.
The current anthem was then played as the players _ Juan Carlos Ferrero and Lleyton Hewitt _ walked out on to court at Rod Laver Arena for the opening singles match of the final. Hewitt won the match 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (0), 6-2.
Tennis Australia said the correct Spanish anthem, plus Australia`s anthem, would be repeated before Saturday`s doubles match and also on Sunday.
Gomez-Angulo, who was in the stadium when the anthem was played, later suggested the Spanish players may have considered not playing had the mistake not been corrected.
Gomez-Angulo told a press conference he wished to "formally express our absolute indignation at the offense that we, the Spanish delegation, have been made subject to at the inaugural ceremony" for the final.
He said it was "an offense to the Spanish delegation and to the Spanish nation", adding: "we cannot trivialize the national anthem of any nation and, of course, I will take my complaint further."
Bureau Report
Juan Antonio Gomez-Angulo, the Secretary of State for Sport in Spain, demanded an official apology after the embarrassing mix-up in which the anthem of Spain`s first republic, the Himno De Riego, was played instead of the current national anthem.
The current anthem was then played as the players _ Juan Carlos Ferrero and Lleyton Hewitt _ walked out on to court at Rod Laver Arena for the opening singles match of the final. Hewitt won the match 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (0), 6-2.
Tennis Australia said the correct Spanish anthem, plus Australia`s anthem, would be repeated before Saturday`s doubles match and also on Sunday.
Gomez-Angulo, who was in the stadium when the anthem was played, later suggested the Spanish players may have considered not playing had the mistake not been corrected.
Gomez-Angulo told a press conference he wished to "formally express our absolute indignation at the offense that we, the Spanish delegation, have been made subject to at the inaugural ceremony" for the final.
He said it was "an offense to the Spanish delegation and to the Spanish nation", adding: "we cannot trivialize the national anthem of any nation and, of course, I will take my complaint further."
Bureau Report