The track and field, sailing and equestrian teams were all based outside Beijing during last Friday night's spectacular and watched the event on television.

However, 10 sailors flew to the Chinese capital from their event site at Qingdao, and 400m runner Sean Wroe left the athletics training camp in Hong Kong to take part.

Heptathlete Kylie Wheeler said she was keen to join the athletes' march at the ceremony, but the 41-strong athletics team, the majority of whom are first-time Olympians, were told by Athletics Australia they were not allowed to attend.

Three-time Olympian, shot putter Justin Anlezark, said he believed an athlete could only attend if they paid their own way.

However, the Australian Olympic Committee confirmed it had paid for Wroe's flight to Beijing.

Athletics Australia boss Max Binnington denied deception and put it down to confusion with the track and field competition not getting under way until Friday and most athletes arriving in Beijing this week.

''I think in many cases they become overwhelmed by information so it's not surprising that there can be some confusion around these things,'' he said.

An AOC spokesperson in Qingdao said the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games had paid for the sailors' return flights.

But in Hong Kong, Australian equestrian team manager Brett Mace said two riders had asked to go but were told the policy was the riders weren't allowed to go because it would have left their horses at the competition venue in Hong Kong for two days.

Asked about the policy, AOC president John Coates initially thought Wroe had paid his own way but had to be corrected by AOC media director Mike Tancred.

Mr Coates then said it appeared Wroe had activated his AOC flights to Beijing and official accreditation early, and decided not to return to Hong Kong.