President Barack Obama has apologized to the chairman of the Special Olympics for equating his bowling skills to those of athletes with disabilities.

During his historic appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the president said he has been practicing at the White House’s bowling alley but wasn’t happy with his score of 129.

“It was like the Special Olympics or something.”

Even before the taped program aired, Obama called Tim Shriver, chairman of the non-profit organization dedicated to individuals with mental and physical disabilities, to apologize for the off-color remark.

“He expressed his disappointment and he apologized in a way that was very moving. He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate this population,” Shriver said Good Morning America Friday.

“I think it’s important to see that words hurt and words do matter. And these words that in some respect can be seem as humiliating or a put down to people with special needs do cause pain and they do result in stereotypes.”, says Shriver, who added that he would like to have some Special Olympic athletes visit the White House to bowl or play basketball.

Tim is the son of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the nephew of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, whose endorsement helped the president win the Democratic nomination for president.