Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010: Swimmers fall ill amid poor water quality
New Delhi – Swimmers at Delhi Commonwealth Games have been reported to fall ill amid the poor quality water at the swimming pools. According to the reports, a considerable number of swimmers from Australia, England and from other countries had been suffering
from stomach ailments, swelling eyes and skin diseases as the water quality maintained at the pools was rather poor and contaminated. Up till now, 10 English, while 12 Australian swimmers have been figured out with the stated ailments and this had negatively
affected their ability to perform in the event.
The interesting thing about the incident was that the administration as well as the organizing committee at Delhi Commonwealth Games, following its much practiced tradition, had again completely denied the matter as they both claimed that they did not have
such complaint from the swimming teams. While commenting upon the reports of the ailments of the swimmers, the president of the CWG, Mike Fennel said that they had already conducted the tests regarding whether the water was contaminated or un-pure, however
the experts had ensured its quality and there was nothing to worry about that.
The president for CWG further said that he was concerned with the health and fitness of the players. “If the reports about illness of the swimmers aimed low quality water are true, we would immediately try to address the problem”
Mr. Fennel ensured the media correspondents.
While the organizing committee and Delhi administration is completely denying the existence of any quality issues with water in the pools. The athletes are not only constantly falling ill, some of them like Robert Hurly from Australia, who happened to be
the strongest contender for the gold medal, had to leave for the home towns right in the mid of the event, as he did not seem likely to recover from his ailments.
That recent incident had added insult to the injury for the organizing committee who had already been under much criticism owing to the similar allegations at other fronts regarding mismanagement. For swimmers, despite of the assurance from the concerned
authorities, the situation was getting worse and worse as according to the latest reports; two thirds of the swimmers from the team of England had been suffering from stomach viruses.
The incident succeed on attracting the attention of the organizers only when the English swimmer Francesca Halsall had to be rescued from the pool as owing to the ailment, she could not keep her balance before diving into the pool. The world media, aimed
this situation, had once again got a point to express its concerns over the merit of the gold medal winners in the absence of the athletes with high profiles. Who had either withdrawn their names owing to the security conditions in the country or because of
the sheer mismanagement and health issues which persisted during the event.
The rising health issues have not only hindered some of the renowned players from taking part into the 19th commonwealth games, they have also affected the performance of the athletes who, somehow, had managed to ensure their participation into
them. For instance, Gemma Spofforth who happened to be the world champion in 100m backstroke last year could only manage to bag silver as she too had fallen ill prior to the final. Rbecca Adlington, who happened to be the Olympic champion for two consecutive
times, after being hit by the bug, couldn’t maintain with her performance.
Among all the athletes hit by the stomach bugs, Francesca Halsall was perhaps the one who suffered the most. While aiming to secure her gold, the girl fainted as the officials literally had to hold her up till the team doctor Ian Gordon could rushed to treat
her.
Visibly shaking, out of breath, pale and holding her tears back the poor girl told the media personnel that she had developed tummy issues last night and they persisted on through the day as well. While concluding her remarks, she said that she was not feeling
well and was much worried about the matter as in her team, according to her; everybody was going down with that.
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