Vancouver's Olympic organizing committee has apologized for putting the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra "in a difficult position" after asking other musicians to mime its work during the 2010 Games opening ceremonies.

The offer of regret comes after orchestra conductor Bramwell Tovey refused an invitation by VANOC to record music the symphony wouldn't perform live, calling such a performance "fraudulent" earlier this week.

Even with the apology, the orchestra isn't being asked to perform live, leaving the organizing committee without their music at the gala opening event.

However, the symphony's melodic strains will still be heard during the Games as more than 90 recorded national anthems will be played when athletes grace the podium and during the Cultural Olympiad.

VANOC and the orchestra issued a joint statement late Saturday including the apology and a statement from Tovey expressing the orchestra's pride to otherwise be part of the Games.

VANOC had said it is standard practice to pre-record some music for large, internationally televised live events and then have musicians mime playing the songs.