Clark 'snub' upsets Games boss

Ronald Walker with The Queen on the first day of the Games. Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - Commonwealth Games chairman Ronald Walker today attacked Prime Minister Helen Clark for snubbing the Games, saying "she obviously doesn't like sport".

Mr Walker said he spoke to Helen Clark at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta, late last year. He also sent her an invitation to the Games.

"I'm disappointed that Helen Clark didn't see fit to travel three-and-a-half hours to get over here," he told a Games press conference.

A prominent support of the right wing Liberal Party, Mr Walker is an Australian businessman renowned for his work managing sporting events.

"We sent invitations to her but obviously she's either too busy or doesn't like sport, or both of those things," he said.

"It would have been good for her to come and support the athletes."

Sports Minister Trevor Mallard has been at the Games and attended a number of events in Melbourne.

A former national treasurer of the Liberals, Mr Walker helped bring the Australian Grand Prix to Melbourne, winning the hosting rights from Adelaide.

He is chairman of John Fairfax Holdings, Australia's second-biggest newspaper publisher.

Fairfax is owner in New Zealand of The Dominion Post, The Press and The Sunday Star-Times, and several other newspapers.

A Games invitation had been sent to the Prime Minister by the New Zealand Olympic Committee, secretary general Barry Maister said.

"All I'm going to say is, she was invited," Mr Maister said.

Helen Clark could not be immediately reached for comment.

- NZPA