The New Delhi Games: Showpiece or shame?

With days to go before the start of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, the organisers face a dilemma with reports claiming the games village and venue are not fit for purpose.

The website for the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi states that its mission was to deliver the ‘’Best Commonwealth Games Ever’, build state-of–the-art sporting and city infrastructure, showcase the culture and heritage of India and leave behind a lasting legacy.

However, the problems highlighted have already prompted several top athletes to pull out, whilst others have delayed the departure of their teams, until they receive confirmation that their issues are properly addressed.

Many have expressed anger that India seems ill-prepared for the Games. The opening ceremony is due to start on Oct 3 but the organisers are racing against time to complete unfinished buildings and clean up the athletes’ village which has been condemned as ‘unfit for human habitation’.

To add to the long list of construction problems, there have been allegations of corruption, lapses in security, the danger of terrorist threats, monsoons and an outbreak of dengue fever.

The Commonwealth Games, an important event in the sporting calendar, would have seen the gathering of 7,000 athletes from 71 countries. Hosting the games was meant to showcase India as a global destination and economic power in the international arena.

Instead, it has become a major embarrassment, with some athletes pulling out of the Games.

Whilst Indian officials attempted to play down the crisis with promises that all the problems would be addressed, several athletes have already withdrawn from the games and others are threatening to do the same.

Mike Fennell, the Commonwealth Games Federation president has requested a meeting with prime minister Manmohan Singh.

A stadium foot-bridge near the Jawaharlal Nehru complex, which is the centrepiece of the games, collapsed and injured 27 people.

A day later, when part of a ceiling inside the weightlifting venue also collapsed. Leading politicians played down the ceiling collapse, and the Indian Cabinet Secretary KM Chandreshekhar insisted it was a 'minor' issue.

Meanwhile, the accommodation complex is reported to be filthy with excrement allegedly found in some rooms. In addition, there are plumbing, wiring, hygiene and furnishing problems. After rain, pools of water are found in the rooms.

The Commonwealth Games Federation president said, “'The Commonwealth Games village is seriously compromised” amid reports that with the monsoon rains, there was mud everywhere and that plenty of remedial work had yet to be done, to remove piles of rubble which were scattered throughout the complex.

Australian discus world champion Dani Samuels was the first athlete to withdraw as she was concerned about her health because of a recent outbreak of dengue fever. She also feared for her safety after two Taiwanese tourists in India were shot at by a person riding pillion on a motorcycle.

One Australian television news crew claimed that they managed to carry a case for an explosives detonation kit into the stadium without being challenged by the security detail. They even filmed how they did it and said that they had been able to purchase the explosives within a day’s drive of New Delhi.

Although the Australian authorities issued another warning about safety, and that there was a ‘high risk’ of an attack in New Delhi, the organisers of the Games have promised that the event will be safe.

There is much optimism that the Games will proceed. Nevertheless, the question of whether an individual athlete should withdraw or not, is deemed a personal decision, which should be based after consultation with their families, team members and coach.

It is stressful enough having to train and mentally and physically prepare for the sporting event, without having to worry about mosquito-borne diseases, problems with the shower, lighting in the rooms or terror attacks.

At the end of the day, teams from the various nations will continue to monitor the situation without compromising on health, safety and security of athletes and officials.

Finally, those who are involved in the construction industry are aware that unscrupulous people involved in any project may try to cut corners and thus increase their profits. If the allegations of corruption are found to be true in the building of the games village and venue, the Indian authorities should come down hard on these people.

To date, the Commonwealth Games Federation has requested the Indian government to speedily improve conditions at the village and also review their security arrangements.

This is crucial if the organising committee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi wants these Games to be remembered for the ‘best Games’ ever and not, for the wrong reasons. - Malaysian Mirror