PA/62/10 15 October 2010
Response to ‘Times of India’ Story
The page one story in the Times of India – 'Cricket Loss Makes Oz Athletes Take It Out On Washing Machine' (15 October 2010) takes sloppy journalism to a new low. It is factually wrong, insulting to Australia’s athletes and can only be described as a fantasy. It badly lets down a quality newspaper.
Here are the facts. There were indeed some spirited celebrations involving the Australian team and a number of other teams at the athlete’s village. The athletes were enjoying their stay in Delhi and celebrating their achievements in the Commonwealth Games. A good story we would have thought.
We can confirm that in the course of those celebrations a washing machine was damaged, though it remains unclear who did the damage, what their nationality was, and whether it was deliberate or accidental.
The suggestion that this was a reaction to Australia’s loss in the second test is completely baseless. The Australian team’s celebration had nothing to do with the cricket, or India, or Sachin Tendulkar.
Indeed Sachin Tendulkar enjoys enormous respect and affection in Australia. He won the second test for India. A recent online poll in Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald voted Sachin Tendulkar the greatest batsman ever. Australians ranked him ahead of Don Bradman which is saying something.
At no point in writing the Times of India article did the journalist contact the High Commission or the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to verify the story. One can only speculate what the agenda here is.
Australia sent its biggest team ever to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The athletes embraced India and left with wonderful experiences of the people and places that make Delhi the great city that it is. They were very grateful for the welcoming hand that India has extended.