Fennell promises to investigate CWG ticket scam

- Images from the Games: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Medals Tally

The 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee on Saturday was quick to dismiss the 'monkeygate' controversy after it was alleged that a South African swimmer called Indian spectators as "monkeys".

"He didn't call the people monkey, he just said that some people were behaving like monkeys," an official said.

An angry South African swimmer, Roland Schoeman, on Friday directed his anger at a fan in the stands after narrowly avoiding disqualification from a false start. He and England's Simon Burnett jumped the gun after hearing a noise from the stands in the second semi-final of the men's 50 metres freestyle.

 The Games OC said Schoeman's exacts words were as follows: 'It's an absolute disgrace. There's a guy in the stands just shouting, shouting, shouting… somebody like that needs to be ejected. It's unacceptable to be at a professional event like this and have people going on like monkeys. Someone like that doesn't deserve to be here.'

Organising Committee secretary-general Lalit Bhanot said they never considered lodging a complaint after a few reporters tried to twist the swimmer's quotes and make an issue out of it in the press conference.

"I have no report about it, but if it has been said, it is unfortunate. These are friendly Games and if any remark has been it is unfortunate. We will ensure that these things do not happen, but nothing more can be done. We will not like to lodge a complaint because, as I said, these are friendly Games," he said.

Another controversy dogging the Games since the start is the issue of ticket sales. While the general public is unable to buy tickets, with all outlets reporting that all the venues have been sold out, one witnesses nearly half the venues empty for every event.

As always, Bhanot tried to brush off things, saying that there is no scandal involving sale of tickets.

"We have no information as far as black ticketing is concerned. It is not that the stadiums are empty, it just that the attendance is less. There are a good number of spectators who are present in the stadium.

"There were some tickets given to the sponsors and most of the sponsors' guests are not attending the Games. We are getting reports that tickets are sold out and that report is given to us by IRCTC, who is our vendor," he added.

However, Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell admitted the alleged ticket scam needs to be thoroughly investigated.

"We have been promised that there will be a full investigation, because something is not right about the ticket sales and the reports that we are receiving," Fennell said.

Despite all the glitches, Fennell declared: "The Games are going on successfully and we must acknowledge it."

And with regards to the numerous problems that still continue to persist, he gave an assurance: "You can't correct what happened yesterday, but you need to ensure that you correct it for the days to come."