Top athletes opting out of Delhi Games
The 19th commonwealth games are just a few days away but the organizers are already facing the worst time of their lives as they are facing it tough to convince the participating nations not to back out due to security concerns
and insufficient health conditions.
Several of the biggest names of sports have pulled out from 2010 Delhi commonwealth games. Not only this, England and Scotland are considering withdrawing their teams from the event citing threat of life of their participants.
Officials are trying to save their blushes and have called upon Commonwealth Games Federation Chief Mike Fennell for an emergency meeting to sort out the issues and problems hovering over the event that starts on 3rd October.
The latest stars who have withdrawn from the competition are English Olympic 400m gold medalist Christine Ohuruogu and world triple jump champion Phillips Idowu, one would not be surprised if the remaining names pull back too as
other Australian members are pondering to avoid the games as well.
This drama of not participating has erupted after several complaints by the participants who have reached New Delhi. Some teams have also shown serious concerns about the present condition of the athletes' village. In addition,
athletes have been terrified by the recent collapse of a footbridge near one of the venues. Furthermore the recent gun attacks have not helped India either in their bid to pursue the top nations and athletes that they will face no security concerns if the
terrorists hit India.
New Delhi, the Indian capital has been in the grip of an outbreak of dengue fever and parasite infection have added to the misery of organizers who are biting their nails and facing a race against time in their effort to successfully
launch the event.
Not only this, the Commonwealth Games Federation have also blasted the people who are working on accommodation facilities saying the official accommodation as "uninhabitable" with debris in front of doorways and out of order toilets,
power outage and various other issues.
It has been such a disgrace that officials from the participant teams have taken the responsibility of cleaning their surroundings themselves to remain healthy.
All of the bad news has come up after successive delays, laziness of officials causing missed deadlines for venues, plus several complains of corruption.
India was dreaming to pull off an event like the Beijing Olympics but the reality seems to be far from the initial plan as the success of the event is not the concern now but the biggest challenge in front of the Indians is how
will they manage to pull off a miracle of starting the multi sporting event on time.
It will be some achievement if the organizers manage to produce a successful event which looks to be heading towards national embarrassment.
The attraction of the commonwealth games have been further deteriorated by the absence of the following superstars:
Usain Bolt (JAM), Asafa Powell (JAM), Paula Radcliffe (ENG), Jessica Ennis (ENG), Christine Ohuruogu (ENG), Phillips Idowu (ENG), Dani Samuels (AUS), David Rudisha (KEN), Asbel Kiprop (KEN), Linet Masai (KEN), Shelly-Ann Fraser
(JAM), Chris Hoy (SCO), Victoria Pendleton (ENG), Stephanie Rice (AUS), Andy Murray (SCO), Lleyton Hewitt (AUS), Samantha Stosur (AUS), Beth Tweddle
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