Pakistani contingent arrives for Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games in New Delhi are only four days away and some of the leading participants from around the world are continuing to arrive in New Delhi the venue of the Games to participate. The beleaguered hosts are trying their best to put on a world
class show in what will be the biggest sporting extravaganza the country has seen in the last two decades.
Arch rivals, Pakistan, along with competitors from Guyana, Jamaica, and Australia arrived under tight security as the number of athletes swelled at the Games Village.
The participation by the Pakistani contingent is extremely significant as the tour was once in jeopardy in the aftermath of the attacks on Mumbai in November 2008 that left 166 people dead.
New Delhi blamed militants operating from Pakistan for the attacks ever since there has been a diplomatic stand-off between the nuclear neighbours and they were on a war path when tensions eased in time at the start of 2009.
On the other hand the head coach of Australia's swimming squad, Leigh Nugent, said his squad was eying maximum medals in the Games.
"I have pretty high spirits today as it is a very exciting day traveling into the Village (Games Village). We will rest in the morning and train in the afternoon. There have been concerns right before we came but now we are here because there was not enough
to stop us from coming", he said.
A group of 52 swimmers from Australia would be based in the Games Village with around 100 compatriots, as the leading Commonwealth nation with a rich sporting tradition targeting a medal sweep in most disciplines.
The Games were supposed to show the World the Indian economic muscle, organistaion strength, and construction. However, India was badly let down by the organising committee that worked on putting the facilities in place at various venues around the Indian
capital.
Subsequently reports of shoddy construction, dirty housing at the Games Village and security concerns raised questions about Asia's third largest economy's ability and shallow claims of putting on the best Games in history.
Meanwhile, trouble still surrounds the Games as activists of the Rashtrawadi Sena an extremist Hindu group burnt an effigy of Commonwealth Games Chief Executive (CE) Mike Hooper protesting over his remarks that criticised the Organisers of the event.
The group claimed that the CE insulted the Indian nation and to protest against his stance they shouted slogans and walked with banners reading 'For insulting the people of India, Hooper go back go back'.
The CE, who was in charge of ensuring that the best possible Games were put on, told a New Zealand television news channel that the chaotic conditions that are a part and parcel of life in India are to be blamed.
India is the second most populated country in the world and Hooper believes that this was one of the main factors to impact the Organisation of the Games.
Jai Bhagwan Goyal, chief of Rashtrawadi Sena, said that Hooper had insulted the country with the remarks and he should apologize to the Indian nation and stick to his business rather than commenting on the lifestyle and mannerisms of the hosts.
"Through this protest we are sending a memorandum to the Queen of England, and are demanding that Mike Hooper should be expelled from the post. A good person should be appointed in place of him, who will have good thoughts and who can walk with everyone,
so that the Games can be hosted well. We have also requested the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that there should be no place in the country for such an ill-mannered person", said Goyal.
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