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Obama sorry for disability remark | Obama sorry for disability remark |
(about 3 hours later) | |
US President Barack Obama has apologised for joking on a TV chat show that a poor bowling performance was "like the Special Olympics". | US President Barack Obama has apologised for joking on a TV chat show that a poor bowling performance was "like the Special Olympics". |
He made the comment during an appearance on Jay Leno's Tonight Show, and later phoned the chairman of the Special Olympics to apologise. | He made the comment during an appearance on Jay Leno's Tonight Show, and later phoned the chairman of the Special Olympics to apologise. |
Responding, Tim Shriver said Mr Obama's remarks could be seen as "humiliating" to people with special needs. | Responding, Tim Shriver said Mr Obama's remarks could be seen as "humiliating" to people with special needs. |
The organisation involves people with intellectual disabilities in sport. | |
It was established in 1968 and now runs programmes in more than 180 countries. | It was established in 1968 and now runs programmes in more than 180 countries. |
Reacting to Mr Obama's comments, Mr Shriver said the president had apologised for his remark. I think it's important to see that words hurt and words do matter Timothy ShriverChairman, Special Olympics | Reacting to Mr Obama's comments, Mr Shriver said the president had apologised for his remark. I think it's important to see that words hurt and words do matter Timothy ShriverChairman, Special Olympics |
"He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate [the disabled] population," said Mr Shriver. | "He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate [the disabled] population," said Mr Shriver. |
But he stressed that the president's comments should not be dismissed out of hand. | But he stressed that the president's comments should not be dismissed out of hand. |
"I think it's important to see that words hurt and words do matter," he added. | "I think it's important to see that words hurt and words do matter," he added. |
"And these words that in some respect can be seen as humiliating or a put down to people with special needs do cause pain and they do result in stereotypes." | "And these words that in some respect can be seen as humiliating or a put down to people with special needs do cause pain and they do result in stereotypes." |
'Wonderful programme' | 'Wonderful programme' |
A spokesman for Mr Obama said the remarks were not meant to disparage the Special Olympics. | A spokesman for Mr Obama said the remarks were not meant to disparage the Special Olympics. |
"He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful programme that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world," the spokesman said. | "He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful programme that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world," the spokesman said. |
Mr Obama made the remark after telling Mr Leno that he had been practising his 10-pin bowling in the wake of a much-lampooned performance on the campaign trail in 2008. | |
On that occasion he managed to score just 37 points, a tally that was filmed and widely highlighted during the campaign. | On that occasion he managed to score just 37 points, a tally that was filmed and widely highlighted during the campaign. |
He had improved his score since then, he said, but was still unhappy with his most recent tally of 129 points: "It was like the Special Olympics or something," the president told Mr Leno. | He had improved his score since then, he said, but was still unhappy with his most recent tally of 129 points: "It was like the Special Olympics or something," the president told Mr Leno. |
Mr Obama also talked about his economic policies in the interview, as well as engaging in discussions about his family, and his efforts to find a pet dog for his daughters. | Mr Obama also talked about his economic policies in the interview, as well as engaging in discussions about his family, and his efforts to find a pet dog for his daughters. |
The BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan said the smooth segue in conversation from economic policy to more personal matters demonstrated Mr Obama's so-called "Barackstar" status, as a man equally happy to play the role of politician and personality. | The BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan said the smooth segue in conversation from economic policy to more personal matters demonstrated Mr Obama's so-called "Barackstar" status, as a man equally happy to play the role of politician and personality. |