Caborn hits back in athletics row

Caborn failed to persuade the IAAF to back Sheffield

Sports Minister Richard Caborn has accused athletics' world governing body of making "grotesque" claims over his handling of the 2005 World Championships controversy.

He was responding to allegations made by officials of the International Association of Athletics Federation that he used "colonial" language in a recent meeting.

Caborn and Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell met IAAF represenatives to try to pesuade them that Sheffield should be considered as an alternative to London for 2005.

As a campaigner for equality in South Africa for over 30 years, I was insulted

Caborn rejects claims he used colonial language

The offer was made after the government scrapped plans for a new national athletics stadium in the capital at Picketts Lock.

Caborn denied offers of scholarships for African athletes and sightseeing trips around London for IAAF delegates were mere inducements.

He said: "What we told the IAAF was that if they wanted to hold their Congress in London we would facilitate that.

"Also, if they want to see the sights - Number 10, the House of Commons and so on - then we would help with that too."

The minister reacted angrily to suggestions he had been condescending towards the IAAF's Senegalese president Lamine Diack when offering bursaries to African athletes.

Caborn described the claims as "grotesque" and said: "As a campaigner for equality in South Africa for over 30 years I was insulted by that.

Lamine Diack (r) wants the 2005 Worlds in London

"In his conference speech last week, the Prime Minister challenged us all to forge closer links with African states.

"That was why we made our offer of scholarships for young African athletes.

"It is a great shame the IAAF felt free to dismiss this so readily and in such a lofty manner."

Caborn said it would be better to question why the IAAF "only wants to stage the Championships in London".

"It would cost around £200m, with a stadium which would lie empty for all but two days a year.

"The best deal for the sport is a first-class championships in Sheffield and tens of millions of pounds to invest in a long-term legacy for athletics in the UK."