Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games in jeopardy? Athletes pulling out, NZ delays departure- India’s honor at stake!!
The day of 3rd October 2010 is fast approaching and so does the time to kick off the mega games event that unites the Commonwealth countries. But this time, the event is marred by controversies. As the news make headlines all over the world, the
top leadership of India jumps in to somehow uphold the honor of their nation.
The Indian Foreign Minister, S.M. Krishna, while talking to a news channel, said, “I think we will be able to deliver. We are trying to remain optimistic but if the unthinkable happens and the games are cancelled, one of the things we would need to look
at is if there is another competition we can take part in.” Such statements clearly depict a sense of nervousness among the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games’ organizers.
Australia, Scotland, England and Canada have shown their concerns regarding the facilities and security being provided for the games. The Australian Sports Minister, Mark Arbib, has announced that they are looking into the mater seriously and would take
any decision only after considering the progress made by the Indian organizers. Earlier, an Australian athlete had announced that she won’t be participating in the games while another English athlete also said that he will not be leaving for Delhi due to security
threats as well as poor health standards for the games.
Commonwealth Games Canada president, Andrew Pipe, said that he was “cautiously optimistic’ that progress was being made while CWG Singapore’s chief executive was himself in New Delhi to see firsthand the situation. He later said that the time was “critical”.
Meanwhile, New Zealand has delayed the departure of its athletes for New Delhi, saying that it is monitoring the situation closely and would reschedule the departure after looking at the progress in Delhi. This comes as yet another blow to the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth
Games.
Mr. Krishna clarified that prolonged monsoon is one reason for the delays in the construction and finishing works for the games but still the games would be held according to the international standards and all the athletes will feel comfortable while playing
in them. Similarly, no compromise would be made on the security issue also. Adding to the pains of the authorities, a pedestrian bridge near the games’ main venue suddenly fell recently, injuring 27 workers. Same happened with the sealing at the weight lifting
venue.
Media reports suggest that the athletics’ village, which has to house some 7000 athletes attending the games, is mostly full of filth, soiled rooms, while stray dogs sleep in the rooms. Some 1000 workers have now been sent in to clean it and make the village
ready within time. Moreover, the recent incident of gunfire outside New Delhi’s Jamia Masjid has raised even more concerns while it has ranged the alarm bells for the security people. This was a serious incidence coinciding with the games, in which two foreign
nationals got injured and were later shifted to a nearby hospital.
It is important to note that the Jamia Masjid itself is a sensitive area and is frequented by thousands of Muslims along with foreign tourist as well. An Australian journalist too, while testing the security apparatus around, was successful in entering the
games’ venue with explosive material for the shock of many. Ticket sales for the games already remain low. These games have cost India up to US$ 10 billion and are now costing it its honor. Time seems short for the organizers to deliver.
Let us wait and see how India pulls up its socks or else lets the games go away from its hands. It should be remembered that the work on the games’ venues had first began in 2008.
Tags: