Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games- miserable preparations, security concerns; many athletes not coming
As the clock ticks towards the final date for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, concern grows over the games due to multiple factors. The games are scheduled to start on 3rd October 2010, with the opening ceremony showcasing the present and the
past of India along with its future tendency to become a major world player.
Some 260 events under 17 disciplines are planned while these games would be the largest sporting event ever to have been conducted by India, which previously hosted Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. The opening ceremony would take place at the capital city’s
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Seven years back, India had won the bid for the games in Ontario, Canada. At that time, it seemed to be a moment of real honor for the Indian people, but this now is at stake due to many reasons.
The Scottish team has delayed its departure to Delhi while English and an Australian athlete have both pulled out over security concerns. These moves come amid heavy criticism of the state of facilities provided for the games. Indian authorities say the
site will be ready in time for the opening ceremony. Michael Fennell, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, is travelling to Delhi for a meeting with the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, who took charge of the game preparations a month ago.
On Tuesday, Mr. Fennell had said that the advance teams, who went to inspect the facilities, had been shocked by what they had seen at the athletes' village, where toilets were filthy while flats unfinished. Also, an under construction bridge near the Jawaharlal
Nehru Stadium- the main games’ venue-collapsed, injuring 27 workers five seriously. On Wednesday, a section of the ceiling at the weightlifting venue fell in, but still the Indian officials termed it as a minor problem and "not something to be worried about".
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Prime Minister has also shown concern on the poor state of affairs, making it clear that if any of his country’s player isn’t willing to go to the games, he would be backed up and not forced due to the fact that his security and
health comes first. The Australian Foreign Office, while expressing its concern, said that its players and athletes are also free to decide whether they want to go for the games or not? All of these statements came the next day when an Australian journalist
somehow managed to pass through the security barriers with explosives and was even successful in entering one of the games’ venues just to prove that the security for the games isn’t that fool proof.
When things start to go against you then they really do. The concern does not stop here as the unhygienic conditions at the athletics’ village, where all the athletes, players and officials would be residing, have also been criticized and declared substandard.
These were the latest setbacks to an event that has already been plagued by allegations of corruption, construction delays and a dengue fever outbreak in New Delhi.
The Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games are just days away but still no teams have arrived. Only 10% of the total tickets have been sold yet while most of the hotel rooms in New Delhi are still empty. Surely, India, New Delhi and Commonwealth Games would be in
the headlines for the coming weeks and participating countries will be keeping a close eye on them. For now, it looks to be a miserably managed event which has severely dented India’s ability to bid for the World Olympics any sooner.
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