Obama forced to apologize for TV show gaffe

President Barack Obama was forced into an embarrassing apology today after a misplaced quip involving disabled athletics backfired.

Appearing on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno', the US head of state joked that his bowling abilities were “like the Special Olympics or something”.

In an attempt to limit the offence caused, Mr Obama apologised for the remark before the taped interview was aired. But campaigners said the comment was indicative of the prejudice that disabled people face.

Mr Obama’s appearance on the chat show – the first by a sitting president - came as part of a wider media blitz intended to win people around to his ambitious economic plans.

But in the knockabout world of the late night circuit, even the most on-message leader can slip up.

Some have taken it as Mr Obama’s first proper gaffe since being inaugurated.

Bowling has proved to be a problem for the president on past occasions. During his electoral campaign an ill-advised media stunt saw him attempt to knock down the pins in an alley in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

In front of the world’s media the president chucked his ball down the gutter.

He told 'The Tonight Show' that he had since been practising at the White House, and had got his score up to 129.

But he added: “It’s like, it was like the Special Olympics or something.”

The studio audience laughed but White House officials may have received the comment with a little more alarm.

Flying back to Washington on Air Force One, Mr Obama called the chairman of the Special Olympics, Tim Shriver, to apologise.

Speaking to ABC’s 'Good Morning America', Mr Shriver said: “He expressed his disappointment and he apologised in a way that was very moving.

“He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate this population.”

The president said he wanted disabled athletes to visit the White House to bowl or play basketball, according to Mr Shriver.

Deputy press secretary Bill Burton later told reporters that Mr Obama’s offhand remark was not meant to disparage the Special Olympics, only to poke fun at his own bowling skills.

But others said it highlighted how language could be offensive, even if unintended.