Louis Walsh apologises for Special Olympics slur
Pop impresario Louis Walsh today apologised for suggesting that the Special Olympics are “little more than an ego trip” for the organisers.
The former Popstars judge sparked a storm of controversy when he said Irish people were not really interested in watching next week’s contest.
Games chiefs accused him of insulting tens of thousands of people who had given up years preparing for the event.
In an interview printed in yesterday’s Irish Times Mr Walsh, who is from Co Mayo, compared the competition to a “State funeral” that Irish people were not really interested in watching.
Today he said the remarks were directed only at public figures who used the event as a public relations stunt.
And he said he was only saying in public what many people thought in private.
“It was never my intention to insult anybody, especially the tens of thousands of people that work on the Special Olympics behind the scenes,” he said.
“I would never want to hurt or insult anybody and I apologise to anyone I did hurt or insult.”
Walsh was quoted in the Irish Times as saying that the Special Olympics were “not the kind of thing you want to watch on TV“.
He told the newspaper: “It’s a lot like a State funeral on television, you know, people will watch a bit here and there, but I don’t think people are interested in it really.
“They certainly won’t be glued to it. They won’t be watching it in Kiltimagh, where I’m from.”
The music manager said today that he was not getting at the behind-the-scenes organisers of the event.
But he added: “I think some of the people up-front are definitely using it as a PR stunt.
“I am not going to name names, I will be in even more trouble then. It was a bit careless of me to say it was an ego trip for the organisers but I think it is definitely an ego trip for certain people involved in it.”
Walsh – who manages Samantha Mumba and Westlife, two of the acts which will be taking part in the opening and closing ceremonies – insisted the event would be spectacular.
“They are going to get public attention for about 10 days or so,” he said.
“But what’s going to happen to the tens of thousands of disadvantaged families who don’t have the resources and for whom the Government have not done their duty?
“These people are entitled to the same care every week and every year and they won’t get it. A lot of public figures use the Special Olympics as a great photo opportunity and a PR stunt for them.
“That is what I meant. I wasn’t getting at the people involved in the Special Olympics or the actual show itself, because I think it is going to be a great show.”
Walsh also apologised for the people of his home town for using them as an example of the Irish people who would not be interested in watching.
He added: “I said in public what a lot of people think in private and that’s probably my fault. But that’s the way I was brought up to be – outspoken and honest.”
His remarks came as the first teams began arriving in Ireland for the contest, which begins next week.
More than 7,000 athletes with learning disabilities, from 160 countries, are taking part in the competition, based at Dublin’s Croke Park stadium.
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali will be among the celebrities taking part in the opening ceremony.
He will stand alongside others including former South African president Nelson Mandela and film star Arnold Schwarzenegger in the June 21 celebration.
More than 75,000 people will be entertained by stars including U2, The Corrs, Westlife, Samantha Mumba, and Riverdance.
