COMMONWEALTH Games bosses have blasted Channel Nine in the wake of the network’s suspension over broadcasting footage of Saturday’s opening ceremony dress rehearsal.

The Network will remain banned until further notice after officials criticised Channel Nine for its blatant disregard for breaching strict broadcast conditions.

According to the Courier Mail, “Games officials tore strips off Nine at a media conference today”, with Gold Coast 2018 chief executive Mark Peters refusing to back down on the suspension Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Peters described the network, which is banned until at least Thursday, as “lacking dignity”.

“That’s not what dignity’s about, that’s not what trust is about and they broke those news access rules,” he said.

“So there has to be a consequence, the same way there’s a consequence for athletes and officials.”

The network broadcast footage of the rehearsal on Sunday night in what organisers deemed to be a breach of news access rules.

“It’s very disappointing when things like this do happen,” Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive David Grevemberg said.

“This is serious — this is taking away from everyone’s experience; from the athletes, the performers — it’s taken away from the experience of the Commonwealth.

“I can’t stress this enough ... we are very disappointed.”

Channel Nine’s status will be reviewed on the first day of competition.

“Channel 9 News broadcast footage of Saturday night’s Opening Ceremony Dress Rehearsal, which breached News Access Rules and accepted industry conventions regarding confidentiality of Games ceremonial rehearsals,” the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) said in a statement earlier.

“GOLDOC expects all media organisations to abide by the agreed rules.”

Nine has apologised and said the release was simply an error.

“We are in discussions with the Commonwealth Games authorities to restore our accreditation and hope to have the situation resolved as soon as possible,” the network said in a statement.

Yet bosses say if 16,000 volunteers and workers inside the ceremony could keep a lid on it, why couldn’t the network?

“Someone was in the venue, took the pictures of the opening ceremony; the other 16,000 volunteers and people respected the fact we asked them not to do it and then they put them on their news service,” he said.

Games chairman Peter Beattie told The Gold Coast Bulletin officials had to take action to protect Wednesday night’s opening ceremony.

“It’s a really important experience for the people who come here, we want this to be a real moment for Queensland, a real moment for the Gold Coast and we don’t want it out there before the night,” he said.

“We just have to make sure we do everything to protect the event itself, the Opening Ceremony sets the tone for the Games and we don’t want to spoil it for the people who are coming or the 1.5 billion people who are going to watch it.

“We will move to protect it I’m afraid, and we don’t like having arguments with anybody … we just don’t want to spoil and that’s why we had to take the action we did.”

Nine’s major commercial rival Channel 7 has exclusive broadcast rights to the Commonwealth Games and has already promoted their commitment to presenting 320 hours of coverage across Channel 7, 7TWO and 7mate.

In January, international news agency Reuters was banned from covering the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics after it transmitted photographs to its clients of the cauldron for the Games.

The International Olympic Committee also revoked the media accreditation of the photographer who took the pictures.

In January, international news agency Reuters was banned from covering the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics after it transmitted photographs to its clients of the cauldron for the Games.

The International Olympic Committee also revoked the media accreditation of the photographer who took the pictures.

Meanwhile, Beattie has trumpeted the 2018 Commonwealth Games’ commitment to an even 50-50 gender balance for the medals on offer at the 21st edition of the Games.

“This is the first multisport event ever where there will be the same number of medals for women as for men — it has not happened at the Commonwealth Games before or the Olympic Games,” Beattie said.

“So we are going to make history. There are 133 women’s and 133 men’s events, and nine mixed open events, for example, in shooting and lawn bowls. That is why we are very proud of this.”

At Glasgow four years ago, women were competing for 48.5 per cent of the medals. With the addition of three additional events in cycle, three in boxing and one in weightlifting, organisers say parity has been achieved.

Anna Meares, a multiple Olympic and world champion cyclist, won gold medals at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games after kicking off her career with a bronze at the 2002 edition in Manchester.

“From an athlete’s perspective, what I have achieved over 16 years at four Commonwealth Games, women today can do in two,” Meares said.

“That speaks volumes for the opportunity being given to our female athletes.

“It is wonderful to be part of this generation and to be part of the change and inclusion.” Kaye Scott, the only member of Australia’s boxing team for 2018 who competed at Glasgow four years ago, said the increase from three to six weight divisions for women was “a wonderful move in the right direction for equality in female sport.

“Eventually I’d love to see the full 10 weight divisions offered.”

As well as the extra events in cycling and boxing, another big boost to women’s participation was the inclusion of women’s rugby sevens. The condensed version of the sport made its Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro, where Australia beat New Zealand for the first women’s gold medal and Fiji won the inaugural men’s title. The Australian women’s team remains a medal favourite now on home soil.

Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive David Grevemberg said gender equality has been at the forefront of the organisation’s work.

“This is just the beginning of a major shift,” he said. “We have come a long way. In the Hamilton 1930 Empire Games (in Canada) we had seven events for women and only 12 per cent of the total medals.

“We have also moved the dial on opportunities for women to officiate. In Gold Coast 2018, for the first time we have some of our federations reaching 50-50 for the number of men and women technical officials.

“We have made enormous jumps.”