Washington, Mar. 20 : President Barack Obama has attracted controversy again by saying that his poor bowling skills make him a likely candidate for the Special Olympics.

His spokesman, however, quickly said Obama did not mean any offense by his comment.

According to Politico, the late-night turn is a political risk for a president overseeing a recession.

Obama has attracted some criticism for it already, but he shrugged it off just a few hours before he appeared on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno in California.

Obama sought to mock his lackluster bowling skills by saying that he recently bowled a score of 129 in the White House bowling alley.

After the show's taping and en route back to Washington on Air Force One, Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told reporters that Obama had "made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that 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," Burton said.

Obama's comments came on the same day that he had appeared with California First Lady Maria Shriver, an early supporter, whose mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the athletic competition for the disabled in 1968.

Obama used much of his appearance on the comedy show to discuss the economy but sought to get in some light-hearted quips toward the end of the taping.

He said he had been working on his bowling game just below his new residence and recently rolled a 129.

"That's very good, Mr. President," cracked host Jay Leno

"It''s like - it was like Special Olympics, or something," the president replied. (ANI)