Thou shalt not Sin
Aussie athletes warned to avoid popular nightclub
AUSSIE Commonwealth Games athletes have been warned to steer clear of popular Surfers Paradise nightclub Sin City after two violent incidents including a glassing.
Former Scottish Commonwealth Games boxer Stephen Lavelle was charged yesterday with two counts of assault after an early morning fracas on the Sin City dance floor which happened as superstar Usain Bolt was in the club.
Northern Irish boxer Sean McComb was banned from Surfers Paradise and fined $756 for public nuisance after allegedly punching on with the Sin City bouncers on Tuesday.
One high-profile Australian medallist said team officials had warned athletes to stay away from Sin City, a popular nightspot favoured by the likes of tennis brat Bernard Tomic and visiting celebrities such as Bolt and Justin Bieber.
An Australian team spokesman said athletes had not been banned from Sin City or any other club but were being urged to be careful.
“They’re being encouraged to be responsible and exercise care as their competition finishes and they start to let their hair down,” the spokesman said.
Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones, however, encouraged athletes to make the most of the city nightlife.
“With large numbers like that you are going to have a couple of incidents but it’s not characteristic of what’s happening,” Ms Jones said.
“The bulk of people are having a great time.
“Everyone has been waiting for their Games events to finish to enjoy this great city and the hospitality it is known for and I encourage them to get out amongst it.”
An 18-year-old man was taken to hospital after being hit with a glass allegedly hurled by Lavelle during a dance floor fracas about 3am yesterday.
A woman, 18, was also allegedly punched in the face, police said.
A witness said the incident happened just after Bolt had entered the DJ booth only a few metres away.
“I saw a guy lunge at another guy and they both ended up on the floor,” the witness, who did not want to be named, said.
“Security pounced on them and dragged them away.”
Sin City general manager Tim Martin said he wouldn’t comment specifically about the alleged assault in the venue just after 3am as it was now a police matter. But he did say Sin City and most of the venues in the precinct had more security on for the Games.
Speaking as the Surfers Paradise Licensed Venues Association president, he said: “Throughout the Games we’ve found the athletes, staff and spectators to be fantastic. Everyone’s here to have fun, and it’s a testament to the venues, police and the precinct that, even with such an influx of people under extended trading conditions, there have been so few issues.”
Lavelle, 27, who won a bronze medal for Scotland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and now lives in Melbourne, left the Southport watch-house yesterday morning wearing blood-splattered shorts and with his face covered.
He was bailed to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on April 30.
Team Scotland yesterday distanced itself from Lavelle, saying he had “no official capacity” with the team.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games officials said they believed McComb may be an innocent victim and he would not be punished. Officials said CCTV footage of the incident “raised concerns as to the accuracy of the initial information” and they had asked police to fast-track a review.
“We are disappointed that the reputation of the athlete and the Northern Island Commonwealth Games Council is being impugned,” the council said in a statement. “We want to ensure that every opportunity is a available to resolve this matter.”
YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS BUT ... THE BULK OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME MINISTER KATE JONES