Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010: Mike Fennell supports the host nation
The Games will be kicking off on the 4th of October in New Delhi. The mega event somehow attracted every sort of criticism from the international community. The chiefs of the Olympic Associations and sports ministers of countries including New
Zealand, Australia and Scotland, particularly, accused India of being unfit for hosting such an event. A number of prestigious athletes from Canada, Australia and New Zealand have also pulled out of the Games on the eleventh hour on the grounds of security
concerns and health issues in the country.
The list of setbacks for the Delhi Games seems to be never ending, but the chief of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Mike Fennell has declared that he has no regrets over India being awarded the responsibility to host the mega event. While talking to BBC,
Mike said that it was important for the federation to take such risks otherwise the event will just be confined to a few countries. He added that the issue regarding the Games Village and venues come along such big events and it is not necessary for the largest
Commonwealth country to host the event.
Most of the participating nations have their doubts about the quality of the construction material used to build the venues where the events will be taking place. These apprehensions were fuelled by the collapse of the bridge near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium,
the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies and that of the roof of the weightlifting venue.
The chief of the Commonwealth Games Federation had given complete authority and freedom to the officials of the Indian Organizing Committee regarding the preparation and management of the event. However, these officials were not approved by the Indian public
as their work was marred with intense corruption allegations all the way from the beginning. The local people had to suffer from the increased prices of construction material and labour during the preparation process. Criticism paved its way to the Games,
as the Organizing Committee failed to live up to the expectations of the athletes and visitors.
Although, the Organizing Committee worked very hard when it came to addressing the problems faced by the delegates at the Village and regarding the hygienic conditions of the Residential Zone, it could not convince the seven high profile athletes not to
pull out of the Games. The most significant names out of the list of seven are those of the English triple jumper Philips Idowu, Elena Baltacha, the Scottish tennis player, South African Caster Semenya and Kenya’s David Rushida. These are the names of the
athletes who have withdrawn from the Games due to security and health concerns.
At the same time when athletes from the world over are resigning from the Delhi Games, the Indian Olympic Association wants more athletes to represent the host nation. As a result, the Swimming Federation of India has selected 14 more swimmers for the swimming
events of the Games. The team that formerly consisted of 26 swimmers has now been expanded. The Secretary of the federation, Virendra Nanavati said that the more young swimmers were selected so that they are given exposure which will add to their athletic
profiles. The secretary went on to say that through these Commonwealth Games, the new athletes will gain experience of an international event which will boost their performance and moral when they go out to represent India outside the country. Including the
officials and the support staff, the Indian swimming squad has 53 members.
Team India’s chef de Mission, Bhubaneswar Kalita said that the overall number of athletes that will be representing India has been increased. He also revealed that the maximum numbers of athletes that will be playing at the Games due to start this Sunday
are from India.
Kalita said that since India is the host country, it will take the opportunity to benefit its own athletes by giving them a chance to be a part of such a mega event. He added that some of the athletes of Team India are yet to arrive at the Games Village,
latest by the 8th of October.
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