Kalmadi apologised to Ugandan officials: Lalit Bhanot

NEW DELHI - Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi has apologised for an incident that left three Ugandan officials injured at the Commonwealth Games Village, OC secretary general Lalit Bhanot said Friday.

“Kalmadi has sent a letter to the High Commissioner and chef de mission apologising for whatever has happened,” Bhanot told reporters at a press conference.

However, Ugandan High Commissioner Nimisha Madhvani has denied that she has received an apology from the Organising Committee.

“Sports minister Mr. Charles Bakkabulindi or I haven’t received any message or apology from Mr. Kalmadi,” Madhvani told IANS.

The Ugandan sports minister had Thursday demanded an apology from India after three of its officials were injured, one seriously, when a security apparatus malfunctioned almost toppling their car.

Even after Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell expressed regret over the Tuesday night freak accident, Ugandan Minister Charles Bakkabulindi said he was disappointed over the conduct of Indian officials who, he said, did not even come to the rescue of his injured officials.

Uganda’s chef de mission William Tumwine, administrative officer Iren Matovu and press attache Juliet Ochong were injured when a “tyre killer” — a spiked instrument meant to demobilise intruding vehicles — malfunctioned all of a sudden at one of the Games Village gates.

While Matovu suffered serious eye injuries and required extensive facial stitching, Tumwine suffered a head injury. Ochong had a whiplash injury.