Never planned to attend Games opening: Kalmadi

The Delhi high court on Wednesday barred Suresh Kalmadi from attending the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on July 27. However, the sacked Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman claimed he had only sought permission to attend the IAAF Council meeting in London.

"I was never planning to attend the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics 2012 and I never sought this permission in any case," he said.

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"I had applied to the court to attend Council Meetings of the International Association of Athletics Federation Council in London during the Olympics. The Ld (learned) Special Judge and the Honourable Delhi High Court have granted me the permission to travel to London for this purpose," a statement from him added.

The Delhi high court on Wednesday restrained Kalmadi from proceeding to London to attend the opening ceremony of the Games, saying his participation can cause "embarrassment" to the nation.

The bench of Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw also barred him from leaving the country till July 27.

The IAAF, which is planning to hold its Council Meeting on July 31 and August 10 in London, had said that it would not stop Kalmadi from attending the meeting as he is an elected member of the council.

Kalmadi said he would be attending the IAAF council meeting as Asian Athletic Association president and Asian Area Group representative.