I hadn't sought permission to attend opening ceremony: Kalmadi

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday barred Suresh Kalmadi from attending the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games but the sacked CWG Organising Committee chairman claimed that he had sought permission only to attend the IAAF Council meeting in London.

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Kalmadi said that he had not sought permission for attending the opening ceremony of the Games on July 27.

"I was never planning to attend the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics 2012 and I never sought this permission in any case," Kalmadi said in a statement.

"I had applied to the court to attend Council Meetings of the International Association of Athletics Federation Council in London during the Olympics. The Ld (learned) Special Judge and the Honourable Delhi High Court have granted me the permission to travel to London for this purpose," he added.

The Delhi High Court had restrained Kalmadi from proceeding to London to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, saying that his participation can cause "embarrassment" to the nation. (Read here)

The bench of Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw also barred Kalmadi from leaving the country till July 27.

The IAAF, which is planning to hold its Council Meeting on July 31 and August 10 in London, had said that it would not stop Kalmadi from attending the meeting as he is an elected member of Council.

Kalmadi has said that he was attending the IAAF Council Meeting as Asian Athletic Association President and Asian Area Group representative.