Obama: Sorry I said my bowling is as bad as Special Olympics

Barack Obama today apologised for a gaffe in which he described his inept bowling abilities as "like the Special Olympics".

The US President made the mistake of relaxing while appearing on the late-night talk show hosted by comedian Jay Leno.

Smiling, he recounted that he'd been practising at the White House's bowling alley but was unhappy with his score of 129. He then quipped: "It was like the Special Olympics or something."

The audience laughed and Leno did not pick up on the remark. But White House officials realised instantly it would be offensive.

Mr Obama began an embarrassed round of apologies as soon as he left the Tonight Show studio last night.

He called the chairman of the Special Olympics, Tim Shriver, to say he was sorry before the taped programme was shown early today.

Mr Shriver said: "He expressed his disappointment and apologised in a way that was very moving. He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate this population."

Mr Obama perhaps realised why he was the first serving President to agree to go on a comedy chat show. His gaffe echoed golfer Tiger Woods' remark that he had played a round like a "spaz", for which Woods, too, had to apologise.

Mr Obama's joke had followed a failed campaign photo opportunity a year ago at a bowling alley, in which he scored only a 37. The clip of his dismal bowling efforts had been replayed on late night television shows such as Leno's.

Deputy press secretary Bill Burton told reporters the off-hand remark was not meant to disparage the Special Olympics, only to poke some fun at his own bowling skills. "He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful programme that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities," Mr Burton said.

Until the gaffe, Mr Obama's appearance on the Tonight Show had been hailed as a great success.

During the interview the President, who went on the NBC show to promote his economic rescue plan, likened his Washington critics to X Factor judge Simon Cowell, saying: "In Washington it's a little bit like American Idol except everybody is Simon Cowell. Everybody's got an opinion. That's part of what makes for a democracy."

Asked if it was fair to judge him after 59 days in office, Mr Obama said: "I welcome the challenge. I ran for President because I thought we needed big changes."

Leno, 58, whose show was predicted to have been watched by double its usual five million viewers last night, said: "Mr President, I must say this has been one of the best nights of my life."