17 Oct 2010

Games vandalism denied by Australia

5:00 pm on 17 October 2010

Australia has denied accusations that its athletes participating in the Delhi Commonwealth Games vandalised their tower block in the athletes' village.

Indian media said the athletes' furniture and electrical fittings were destroyed and a washing machine was thrown from the eighth floor.

The Australian High Commission admitted that a washing machine had been damaged during "spirited celebrations".

But, it denied that any Australian athlete had been involved in vandalism.

The Times of India newspaper quoted an unnamed police officer inside the Games village as saying: "The house-keeping staff tried to stop them [the Australian athletes] but to no avail."

In a statement, the Australian High Commission said there had been "some spirited celebrations involving the Australian team and a number of other teams" at the athletes' village.

"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."

Australia led the medals tally at the Games, winning 177 medals, including 74 golds.