Toronto bid hit by mayor's gaffe

Toronto's bid to stage the 2008 Games was under renewed scrutiny yesterday after the city's mayor made comments about fearing African snakes and cannibals.

Mel Lastman, the mayor, repeatedly apologised for the comments the day after they appeared in the Toronto Star, and officials of the bid committee and Canadian government leaders insisted they would not hurt the city's campaign.

However, one senior African Olympic official said the remarks could cause International Olympic Committee members to take another look at the entire Toronto bid.

In comments earlier this month to a freelance reporter, Lastman said he feared making a trip to Mombasa, Kenya, for a meeting of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, where he was due to campaign for the Toronto bid. "What the hell would I want to go to a place like Mombasa?" he was quoted as saying, adding that he feared snakes. "I just see myself in a pot of boiling water with all these natives dancing around me."

In his written apology late on Wednesday, the mayor called the remarks a "joke... I should not have made this comment."

On Thursday, Lastman apologised at a news conference, called to announce a fireworks display planned for Canada Day. "I am truly sorry and I'm going to say it again," he said. "I'm sorry that my comments were inappropriate and I want to apologise to everyone for my remarks, particularly to anyone who was offended by them.

"It was just the wrong thing to say and I'm sorry I made them. What do you want from me except I'm sorry. I apologise, I did the wrong thing." While Lastman's comments were perceived as poor and ill-timed jokes, they touched on racial and cultural issues that are particularly sensitive in Canada.