European Athletics chief takes swipe at crowd

Hansen, the Athletics chief has now come out in support of the three-time European champion, expressing his confidence that Lavillenie will be well received at his home Diamond League meeting in Paris later this month.

Lavillenie was left furious after being jeered by a partisan home crowd as he suffered a shock defeat.

European Athletics president Svein Arne Hansen has criticised Rio 2016 spectators over its treatment of French pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie. The 29-year-old defending Olympic champion had to settle for silver on Monday after losing out to Brazil's Thiago Braz da Silva.

Lavillenie was left furious after being jeered by a partisan home crowd as he suffered a shock defeat. And Hansen has now come out in support of the three-time European champion, expressing his confidence that Lavillenie will be well received at his home Diamond League meeting in Paris later this month.

He tweeted: "Congrats Renaud on winning a tough silver. I'm sure the crowd at @MEETINGPARIS will show u the love u deserve #Home."

Lavillenie made controversial comments comparing his treatment to that of American sprinter Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin in the wake of his loss - a reference for which he swiftly apologised.

"Yes, sorry for the bad comparison I made. It was a hot reaction and I realise it was wrong. Sorry to everyone," he tweeted.