G20 or Grand Final? Obama rebuffs Aussie PM's switch bid

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a valiant attempt to reschedule this month's G20 summit so he could attend the Australian Rules Grand Final -- before being rebuffed by US President Barack Obama.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a valiant attempt to reschedule this month's G20 summit so he could attend the Australian Rules Grand Final -- before being rebuffed by US President Barack Obama.

HT Image

Rudd, playing up to Australia's sports-obsessed reputation despite dire times for the global economy, said he had tried to explain the game was the local equivalent of American football's Superbowl.

"I said to the president, 'Look, have you heard of the AFL Grand Final? This is going to be a bit of a conflict'," Rudd told commercial radio on Monday.

"I had to explain to him for a little bit what the AFL Grand Final is, but I said, 'Look, can you imagine having a summit on the day that you've got the Superbowl over there?'"

"And he said 'Kevin, I'm not moving the date'. So there you go."

Rudd will join world leaders in the US city of Pittsburgh on September 24-25 for the G20 meeting to discuss ways to keep the post-crisis global economy on track. The grand final will be held in Melbourne the following day.