Obama sorry for Special Olympics remark

WASHINGTON, March 20 (UPI) -- The Special Olympics chairman said U.S. President Barack Obama's remark that his bowling skills were "like the Special Olympics" open up a teaching possibility.

The organization's chairman, Timothy Shriver, said in a statement that Obama called Thursday "and expressed his regret and he apologized. He said that he did not intend to humiliate Special Olympics athletes or people with intellectual disabilities."

During an interview on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Obama was asked about his less-than-stellar bowling skills, when he told Leno he'd bowled a 129 and said as an aside, "it was like Special Olympics, or something."

"Words hurt and words matter. And using 'Special Olympics' in a negative or derogatory context can be a humiliating put-down to people with special needs," Shriver said. "This is a teachable moment for our country. We are asking young people, parents and leaders from all walks of life to engage in conversation and help dispel negative caricatures about people with intellectual disabilities."

White House spokesman Bill Burton said Obama's remark making fun of his bowling "was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics. He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world."

The Los Angeles Times reported that Shriver's sister, California first lady Maria Shriver, said in a statement, "While I am confident that President Obama never intended to offend anyone, the response that his comments have caused, coupled with the reaction of a prime-time audience, demonstrate the need to continue to educate the non-disabled community on the issues that confront those with a developmental disability."