NEW DELHI: After vehemently denying their involvement, Australia has finally expressed "regret" for the alleged involvement of its athletes in damaging property at the Commonwealth Games Village and agreed to pay for it, the CWG Organising Committee said on Friday.Reports said some Australian athletes went on rampage at Games Village out of frustration following India's 2-0 cricket Test series win, which apparently led to an Aussie athlete being sent home for disciplinary reasons.
The reports said the Australians also raised slogans against Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar, who played a pivotal role in India's victory.
Organising Committee Secretary General Lalit Bhanot said that Australian chef-de-mission Steve Moneghetti has expressed "regret" over the incident and agreed to pay the damage.
"They have regretted the incident and agreed to pay for the damages. We have no further comment to make," Bhanot said.
Bhanot's statement contradicts the Australian High Commission's stand that the reports are "fantasy" and "baseless".
"It is factually wrong, insulting to Australia's athletes and can only be described as a fantasy," an Australian High Commission statement said.
However, Delhi Police confirmed that a washing machine was thrown from the eighth floor of a residential block housing Australians.
Australian Commonwealth Games Association chief Perry Crosswhite confirmed that an Aussie athlete has indeed been sent home from Delhi for disciplinary reasons.
Crosswhite, however, said he would be surprised if an Aussie is found involved in hooliganism and said athletes from other countries, who were in the Australian building at the time of the incident, could be responsible. (the times of india)
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