Delhi CW Games 2010: Athletics tracks ready to be used, claims Chief Organizer
Suresh Kalmadi
India, the Delhi Games chief has been reported to claim that the athletics tracks had been repaired in the most impeccable fashion and were ready to be used after the frantic efforts to get them ready for the international competition.
Prior to the claims of the Delhi Games chief Suresh Kalmandi, a reporter observed the workmen putting their efforts in a hurried manner to put down the grass on the wide and bare grounds of the in-fields while there were many who were brushing away the debris
and trying to spruce up the overall looks of the stadium.
Though the organizers and officials had already finished with the repair and maintenance work at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium Delhi, but thanks to the spectacular inaugurating ceremony which had damaged the turf all over again. However, after the repairs efforts,
the president of the Commonwealth Games Mr. Mike Fennel looked contended with the situation. He shared with the media that the administration at Delhi had assured him that the stadium was ready for the competition without putting the efforts of 7000 athletes
for gold medals on stake.
Mr. Fennel further said that though there had been some discouraging speculations about the preparations, but he was glad to inform that all the necessary arrangements had already been made. He expected the sports to be conducted according to the schedule.
While defending the efforts of Delhi administration, the chief of the Games eventually went on accepting that the athletics track at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium had been severely damaged and was not at all in the condition to be used for the competitions. Besides
repairs work, some general cleaning was also needed to be done, however, he admired the efforts of the workmen who over nightly took care of the things and by the next morning everything was ready in a desired state. Supporting his claims, Mr. Fennel further
said that the delegate from the IAAF had visited and inspected the stadium in the morning and had showed its complete satisfaction over the situation.
However, a complete contrary report was voiced at an international channel when its correspondent for the Delhi Commonwealth Games and former triple jump gold medallist at Olympics, Jonathan Edward lamented that he had never seen such poor preparation before.
The former athlete went on saying that he had observed many players visiting the track and turf, and he could tell from their expressions that they were definitely frustrated with the situation. Edward further said that Delhi cultivates a culture of procrastination
where everything was delayed until the eleventh hour and that was something which definitely had high concerns among the players.
While reporting to the channel, Edward further said that for a top athlete competing in the event, the preparation is totally pathetic and enough gruesome to put his mood and morale down. He further said that everything going on in there was beyond any stretch
of imagination.
While giving his views over the situation, Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, the chairman of the Organizing committee completely denied the presence of any issue which could have raised any serious concerns among the athletes. Mr. Kalmadi said that there were altogether
1,000 workmen who had been spared for the track repair work. According to him, those workers had the ability to do with the track and turf issues right away.
Defending the efforts of his team in combating the turf and track issues, he said that the repair work was started as soon as the inaugurating ceremony was over. He said that not only the ground was in perfect condition, but the grass had also pressed down
in the centre. While commenting on the views of the Mr. Kalmadi, an athlete said that the tracks for top level events are prepared several days ago, rather than just a few hours before the competition takes place.
However, regardless of the different opinions from players, experts and organizers, the president of the Games told the media that he had been assured by the authorities that everything would be in a desired state as the event would begin. The president
concluded his remarks by saying that he had apparently no reason for not believing the organizers.
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