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Lastman says he's sorry, over and over CTV News with Lloyd Roberson,  Thu. Jun. 21 2001 7:05 PM ET

Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman apologized again and again Thursday for thoughtless comments he made about Africa that some say could derail Toronto's bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.

I am truly sorry and I'm going to say it again, Lastman said. I'm sorry that my comments were inappropriate and I want to apologize to everyone for my remarks, particularly to anyone who was offended by them.

The apology was in reference to remarks Lastman made when he told the Toronto Star he did not want to go to Mombassa, Kenya, where the National Olympic Committees of Africa was meeting.

What the hell would I want to go to a place like Mombasa, he said, later adding, I just see myself in a pot of boiling water with all these natives dancing around me.

On Thursday, asked repeatedly if he would resign over the remarks, Lastman would not respond, except to offer a variety of apologies:

I'm sorry I made the remarks.

I'm truly sorry I made the remarks.

I'm truly sorry.

I'm very sorry about the remarks.

Asked sarcastically if he was sorry about the remarks, Lastman replied Yes. I am.

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, he said finally, thumping one clenched fist on the podium. I apologize, I did the wrong thing.

DECISION TIME NEXT MONTH

Lastman's remarks come as the race to host the 2008 Olympic Games enters its final stages. Toronto is seen as a frontrunner, along with Beijing and Paris. The decision will be announced next month in Moscow.

But one African sports official said Lastman's remarks will cause people to think twice about Toronto's campaign to host the Games.

Dan Moyo, secretary-general of Southern Africa national Olympic committees and a senior official of South Africa's national Olympic committee, said he didn't think the comments would affect the bid, but added it will send a message that one will have to check again Toronto's strengths for hosting the Games and who is organizing the city's bid.

Not only in Africa but across other continents as well, he said from Johannesburg.

I think it's terribly unfortunate, said Paul Henderson, a Canadian member of the International Olympic Committee. I can't believe anyone in his position would first of all think like that or second of all would say it.

I don't even want to lower myself to make a comment on it. All I'd be doing is making the issue bigger than it is and bigger than he is, Henderson said in a telephone interview from Poland.

John Bitove, the head of Toronto's bid committee said the city's bid shouldn't be sidetracked by Lastman's gaffe.

Anyone who knows Toronto knows the strength of this city is it's multiculturalism and its diversity and how proudly we wear that, he said. It's been one of the key features in our bid and it will continue to be a key feature in our bid.

CHRETIEN COMMENTS

Prime Minister Jean Chretien, in Stockholm for an EU Summit, said he didn't want to get involved in something that amounts to spilled milk.

I've just been briefed on that, he said. I don't tend to comment a lot about something, picking up the milk that was on the floor. It was done. I think it was probably, as usual, taken out of context.

Ontario Premier Mike Harris downplayed the incident. He said the mayor's comments were wrong and the timing unfortunate, but noted Lastman apologized right away.

Harris says he hopes African countries understand Mel is Mel and doesn't really mean any harm by the things he says.

Some observers in Toronto disagreed. Abdi Hashised, executive director of the Somali-Canadian Cultural Club, called the comments shameful.

He (Lastman) doesn't have respect for those who voted for him. If he doesn't have any respect for us, we don't have any respect for him, Hashised said.

Munyonzwe Hamalengwa, formerly of Zambia and a former mayoral candidate in Toronto, described the remarks as ignorant and bigoted.

Mayor Lastman's comments, if they're read by members of African Olympic committee, would definitely deny Toronto getting the Olympics. I guarantee you the Olympics will not be in Toronto because of those comments, Hamalengwa said.

But Canadian IOC member Charmaine Crooks, who is also part of the Toronto bid, said Lastman should stay on the Toronto bid team despite the gaffe.

He's been a great cheerleader for the bid and we feel his apology is sincere. Nobody doubts Mr. Lastman's commitment to multiculturalism in Toronto.

Credit: Toronto Star

Mayor apologizes for 'joke' ; Olympic supporters express dismay at 'off the cuff' remark;

Paul Moloney,Bruce DeMara and Jim Byers. Toronto Star. Toronto, Ont.: Jun 21, 2001. pg. B.05

Full Text (826   words)

Copyright 2001 Toronto Star, All Rights Reserved.

Mayor Mel Lastman's office has issued an apology over disparaging remarks he made earlier this month prior to visiting Mombasa, Kenya to promote Toronto's Olympic bid.

In remarks reported in The Star's sports section yesterday, Lastman said in a June 8 interview he didn't want to go Mombasa where the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa was meeting because he and his wife, Marilyn, feared snakes.

Among the worst of his remarks: "I just see myself in a pot of boiling water with all these natives dancing around me." Lastman laughed after he made the comment and was quick to apologize yesterday.

But the written apology in which Lastman characterized the comments as "off the cuff" and a "joke" haven't dampened the outrage and have led to speculation that Toronto's chances of playing host to the 2008 Summer Olympics have been damaged.

"I think it's terribly unfortunate," said International Olympic Committee member Paul Henderson of Toronto, who led the city's bid for the 1996 Summer Games. "I can't believe anyone in his position would first of all think like that or second of all would say it.

"I don't know what you'd do about it," Henderson said in a telephone interview from Poland. "I don't even want to lower myself to make a comment on it. All I'd be doing is making the issue bigger than it is and bigger than he is."

TO-Bid chief operating officer Bob Richardson downplayed the mayor's comments, calling them "a tempest in a teapot."

Richardson said TO-Bid has no plans to call African IOC members or otherwise follow up on the issue. "It's just not that big a deal," he said.

Some observers in Toronto disagreed.

Kitty Molefe, of the Toronto-based Inter-Church Coalition on Africa, which promotes human rights in Africa, called the remarks "an insult not only for me as a person who originally came from Africa but to Torontonians."

Abdi Hashised, executive director of the Somali-Canadian Cultural Club, called the comments "shameful."

"He (Lastman) doesn't have respect for those who voted for him. If he doesn't have any respect for us, we don't have any respect for him," Hashised said.

Munyonzwe Hamalengwa, formerly of Zambia and a former mayoral candidate in Toronto, described the remarks as "ignorant" and "bigoted."

"Mayor Lastman's comments, if they're read by members of African Olympic committees, would definitely deny Toronto getting the Olympics. I guarantee you the Olympics will not be in Toronto because of those comments," Hamalengwa said.

Opiyo Oloya, principal of St. Vincent de Paul School in Markham, said his wife is originally from Mombasa and it is one of Africa's most modern, developed and multicultural cities.

"It goes a long way in understanding that the motivation for (Lastman) going there was strictly to get the Olympic votes and not really to understand Africans," Oloya said.

Councillor Sherene Shaw (Ward 29, Scarborough Agincourt), the city's diversity advocate, defended the mayor despite calling his comments "unfortunate."

"I think the mayor's actions to some extent speak louder than his words. He has a strong history of being supportive of race relations in this city," Shaw said.

Councillor Joe Mihevc (Ward 21, St. Paul's), who helped craft the city's anti-discrimination policy, shook his head in dismay. "I guess Mel missed those Diplomacy 101 classes that he should have attende. I think council should move a motion to send him back to diplomacy school. This is not a way to win votes and influence people.

"I don't think he's meaning to be offensive, but we all have these prejudices we have to deal with and hide, I guess. Unfortunately he let it out and, oh boy, let's just hope it can be contained," Mihevc said.

Councillor Michael Walker (Ward 22, St. Paul's), a frequent critic of the mayor and the only

councillor to vote against the Olympic bid, called Lastman's comments "insensitive."

"Subtlety and good taste and diplomacy are not qualities the mayor possesses in large amounts," Walker said. "Some of the councillors behind his back say every time (Lastman) goes anywhere, he loses us votes. I think it is true."

Richardson and another senior bid official, James Villeneuve, said they are pressing ahead with their efforts to win the Games on July 13 in Moscow.

Richardson said Lastman was effective in lobbying in Mombasa.

"He (Lastman) was good at the reception, very respectful. He chatted with everybody," Richardson said. "It was probably one of his better performances. He went on a safari for half a day or a day and said it was great."

Villeneuve said Lastman met all 12 IOC delegates from Africa.

"They (delegates) respected the fact he was physically there. And a lot of his interaction with them was so enthusiastic that their impression of him, one on one, was positive and helpful to the bid," he said.

"I don't know what you do. We will not change our game plan. We're doing the preparations for Moscow."

Credit: STAFF REPORTERS

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