Oz chief Crosswhite puts blame on other athletes for vandalism at Games village

NEW DELHI - Australian Commonwealth Games Association chief Perry Crosswhite, who admitted that a washing machine was dropped from a balcony in Australia’s section of the Games village, is now trying to cover up things by saying that he would be surprised if an Australian athlete was blamed for the incident.

Australian athletes unable to bear their cricket team’s 2-0 loss to India went berserk destroying electrical fittings and furniture in their tower in the Commonwealth Games Village on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Local media quoted police sources as saying that the athletes shouted slogans against Sachin Tendulkar and flung a washing machine down from the eighth floor of their tower.

“The housekeeping staff tried to stop them but to no avail,” said a senior police officer handling security inside the Games Village.

Crosswhite said he would be surprised if it was an Australian and blamed athletes from other countries who were in the Australian building at the time of the incident.

Asked to explain the incident, he said there was an issue involving a washing machine.

“A washing machine was pushed off a level and went to the ground - a few storeys up. I have my doubts that we did it; there were reports of other athletes from other countries in our residence at the time,” ABC Grandsport quoted him, as saying.

Crosswhite also said that an Australian athlete has been sent home from the Commonwealth Games in disgrace for late-night partying. (ANI)