CWG: Swimmer calls Indian spectators monkeys

MELBOURNE - A swimmer participating in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi has accused Indian spectators of acting like “monkeys”.

South African swimmer Roland Schoeman Friday night also called the Games a “joke”.

“Its an absolute disgrace. There’s a guy in the stands just shouting, shouting, shouting. Somebody like that needs to be ejected,” Daily Telegraph quoted Schoeman as saying.

“It’s unacceptable to be at a professional event like this and have people going on like monkeys. Someone like that doesn’t deserve to be here,” Schoeman said.

“It’s a joke. It’s an absolute joke this event.”

Schoeman spoke out after narrowly avoiding being disqualified when he and England’s Simon Burnett had a false start when they heard a noise in the stand at the second semi-finals for the men’s 50m freestyle.

Officials, however, did not disqualify them.

Schoeman later said: “I’m experienced enough not to make a stupid blunder like that.”

The term “monkey” has taken on new meaning in recent years, with Indian cricketers sledging Australia’s Andrew Symonds with taunts during Australia’s 2007 tour of India.

“Monkey-gate” then returned when India toured Australia the following summer, with Symonds alleging that spin bowler Harbhajan Singh had called him a “monkey” in Sydney.