BBC viewers took to Twitter to complain about the commentary over its coverage of the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony.
Members of the public wrote that they had switched to other channels to avoid the “jibber jabber” over the top of the artistic performances.
There are no fans in attendance at the opening ceremony due to a state of emergency in Tokyo, prompted by rising Covid-19 cases.
Only around 20 of more than 200 Team GB athletes are expected to march at the ceremony, where there will also be significantly reduced delegations from the biggest nations amid concerns around coronavirus.
The opening ceremony launched with fireworks and lights around the Tokyo stadium, before cutting to athletes who performed cycling, swimming and rowing far apart from each other – representing the struggles faced by sportspeople during the pandemic.
The scene was accompanied by cinematic music and impressive lights.
The BBC commentators, Andrew Cotter and Hazel Irvine, spoke extensively over the scene, describing what was taking place and even making a joke about fitness coach Joe Wicks.
“Is there a way to turn off the commentators?? I don't need every little action explained to me,” wrote one frustrated viewer.
“Eurosport has it on with no commentary, thank christ,” added another.
READ MORE: Olympics: BBC Scotland team forced into 14-day isolation in Tokyo hotel
“Lovely music and dancers shame about the commentary,” wrote Ryan Glendenning.
Hugh Menzies added: “Turned off opening ceremony due to the non stop commentating of nothing after 5 minutes, really irritating.”
TV writer Terence Dackombe complained: “How marvellous that the BBC are supplying us with a full audio commentary as we are all too stupid to understand the visual elements of the Olympics opening ceremony for ourselves.”
While all eyes are on today’s opening ceremony, there has been some action, most notably in the rowing.
Puspure, the world champion in both 2018 and 2019, won her heat at the Sea Forest Waterway with more than eight seconds to spare to cruise through to the quarter-finals.
Thornley, the first British female single sculler to gain Olympic selection for 20 years, also crossed the line first in her heat, nearly three seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Jeannine Gmelin.
Bettles, Pitman, Folkard, Huston, Woodgate and Hill also learned who they will face in the competition bracket. Bettles was the best placed Briton today, finishing 15th.
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