Greece: The organisers of Greece's Olympic Games yesterday apologised and launched an investigation into allegations that a Mexican television crew was beaten by guards after it attempted to film outside the port of Piraeus.
The two Televisa Mexico crew and one translator say they were pushed into an unmarked car by three security officers as they tried to film outside the port.They said they were taken to a police gymnasium and beaten.
"We strongly regret what happened yesterday," games spokesman Mr Michael Zaharatos told reporters, while not confirming any of the details given by the Mexicans.
"A formal investigation has been launched, and should there be a need for disciplinary action against the officers it will be taken immediately."
Piraeus adjoins Athens, and is Europe's biggest passenger port. Seven cruise lines will dock ships there during the games to act as floating hotels. The port has been sealed off to everyone apart from ticket-holding travellers and accredited personnel since Monday, and filming banned.
A spokeswoman for Televisa Mexico said the journalists were "kidnapped and beaten".
"They had gone to the port, outside the port, to do a security story. The reporter is an experienced journalist who has won many awards, so he knew what he was doing. But they were literally kidnapped, taken to a police gym and they were hit in the face (and) legs," she said.
They were released four hours later after the intervention of the Mexican embassy. - (Reuters)