Commonwealth Games in crisis .......

[PeteC]

What a joke this has turned out to be. They seem determined to hold the event though, even as the place crumbles around them. I think best to fall on their sword rather than be humiliated even more if the games should proceed. I believe we've found a place with India where their version of mai pen rai has more catastrophic consequences than here. Pete

EDIT: Terry, you're not in India helping build that venue, are you?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100921/sp ... s2010india

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11385214

[Big Boy]

I was watching it on the TV news earlier. It seems that a couple of British athletes have withdrawn already.

[pharvey]

I was watching it on the TV news earlier. It seems that a couple of British athletes have withdrawn already.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... cerns.html

[Terry]

EDIT: Terry, you're not in India helping build that venue, are you?

Glad to say not the venues - but the Airport Express.
On a knife edge as to whether a train will run for the Games.
Anywhere else in the World the the whole system would be considered as at least 6 months away from being ready - but this is Incredible India - World Class

Watch this space

[Terry]

Managed to get to one of the main tourist hubs here in Delhi, 'Connaught Place' yesterday for lunch.

Whilst waiting for my driver I took the attached - a shining example of road resurfacing - all part of the 'spruce-up' for the games

ROAD.jpg (57.39 KiB) Viewed 950 times

Good quality workmanship as usual froma 'World Class' work force................

[PeteC]

Glad to say not the venues - but the Airport Express.
On a knife edge as to whether a train will run for the Games.
Anywhere else in the World the the whole system would be considered as at least 6 months away from being ready - but this is Incredible India - World Class. Watch this space

Last night on the BBC or CNN here, I forget which, stood an Indian official clearly stating that the Airport Express was not only ready for the games, it was already running.

The horror of all this will be if something else collapses or the train has an accident. Further along in the report it was mentioned that virtually nothing works in the athlete's village; plumbing, electric, phones, internet. Pete

[Nereus]

Glad to say not the venues - but the Airport Express.
On a knife edge as to whether a train will run for the Games.
Anywhere else in the World the the whole system would be considered as at least 6 months away from being ready - but this is Incredible India - World Class. Watch this space

Last night on the BBC or CNN here, I forget which, stood an Indian official clearly stating that the Airport Express was not only ready for the games, it was already running............ Pete

The storey show the train "moving", what it did not show was probably about 100 coolies all standing behind it pushing, and shaking their heads!

[Nereus]

Here is some more:

Games' fate to be decided in 48 hours

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/br ... -48-hours/

Commonwealth Games officials are flying to New Delhi today for an emergency meeting with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a bid to resolve the safety issues threatening to derail the Games.

Games organisers have been told they have 48 hours to lift safety standards at the venues after athletes threatened a mass withdrawal following yesterday's roof cave-in the wrestling arena and bridge collapse near the main stadium.

Commonwealth Games Federation Mike Fennell will meet Mr Singh today as Scotland and Canada became the first teams to delay their departures to New Delhi because of the condition of the athletes' village.

The village, which is due to open later today, has been labelled "unsafe and unfit for human habitation" after excrement was found in some of the rooms.

The first group of Scottish athletes and officials was due to depart overnight, but Commonwealth Games Scotland chairman Michael Cavanagh said that dogs had been seen roaming around the village, while the apartments were "filthy" and surrounded by rubble and building debris.

"By delaying the arrival of our athletes by a few days, we hope to give the Delhi 2010 Organizing Committee the necessary time to address the concerns that have been raised by both the Commonwealth Games Federation and the countries which arrived early," Mr Cavanagh said. "We will not compromise on areas of athlete health, safety and security.

"We need urgent action from the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Delhi Organizing Committee to address these crucial issues."

India has tried to play down the recent crises as just "minor glitches" but the England team chairman said last night that the Games were on a "knife's edge" and that their fate would be decided within 48 hours.

Canada's women's field hockey team and two shooting athletes were scheduled to leave for New Delhi today but will remain at home for at least two more days.

"The bottom line is that the accommodations in the athletes village simply aren't ready," Commonwealth Games Canada director of sport Scott Stevenson said. "We're working extremely hard with local authorities to get the finishing work and the clean-up done, but it's going to take more time."

Commonwealth Games England chairman Andrew Foster said he was monitoring the situation. The first English athletes are due to arrive in India tomorrow.

"I think the next 24 to 48 hours is the critical time which will tell us whether the village, which is where the main problem is now, has got enough accommodation for everybody to come into it," Mr Foster said. "It's a situation that hangs on a knife-edge."

He said it was possible that England could pull out of the Commonwealth Games if conditions do not improve.

"The safety of the athletes has to be our primary concern," Mr Foster said. "But equally, we cannot just respond to that alone, we have to evaluate the whole thing together and that is what we are doing."

There is a real possibility one country's withdrawal will trigger a domino effect among larger nations.

In Australia, Sport Minister Mark Arbib conceded it is possible the Australian team could pull out of the Commonwealth Games if the situation in India deteriorated.

But while Senator Arbib said the decision about whether to go to the games remained with individual athletes, he has also warned that the situation could change.

"At the moment ... the decision whether to go or not to go is a decision for athletes themselves. That is the way it is now, that's the way it has been for any large event," he said. "Obviously in terms of going forward things could change."

Australian Commonwealth Games Association chief Perry Crosswhite has said that abandoning the event had not been discussed by Australian officials.

Senator Arbib said the government was continuing to monitor the security situation in Delhi.

[Arcadian]

Here is some more:

Games' fate to be decided in 48 hours

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/br ... -48-hours/

Commonwealth Games officials are flying to New Delhi today for an emergency meeting with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a bid to resolve the safety issues threatening to derail the Games.

Games organisers have been told they have 48 hours to lift safety standards at the venues after athletes threatened a mass withdrawal following yesterday's roof cave-in the wrestling arena and bridge collapse near the main stadium.

Commonwealth Games Federation Mike Fennell will meet Mr Singh today as Scotland and Canada became the first teams to delay their departures to New Delhi because of the condition of the athletes' village.

The village, which is due to open later today, has been labelled "unsafe and unfit for human habitation" after excrement was found in some of the rooms.

The first group of Scottish athletes and officials was due to depart overnight, but Commonwealth Games Scotland chairman Michael Cavanagh said that dogs had been seen roaming around the village, while the apartments were "filthy" and surrounded by rubble and building debris.

"By delaying the arrival of our athletes by a few days, we hope to give the Delhi 2010 Organizing Committee the necessary time to address the concerns that have been raised by both the Commonwealth Games Federation and the countries which arrived early," Mr Cavanagh said. "We will not compromise on areas of athlete health, safety and security.

"We need urgent action from the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Delhi Organizing Committee to address these crucial issues."

India has tried to play down the recent crises as just "minor glitches" but the England team chairman said last night that the Games were on a "knife's edge" and that their fate would be decided within 48 hours.

Canada's women's field hockey team and two shooting athletes were scheduled to leave for New Delhi today but will remain at home for at least two more days.

"The bottom line is that the accommodations in the athletes village simply aren't ready," Commonwealth Games Canada director of sport Scott Stevenson said. "We're working extremely hard with local authorities to get the finishing work and the clean-up done, but it's going to take more time."

Commonwealth Games England chairman Andrew Foster said he was monitoring the situation. The first English athletes are due to arrive in India tomorrow.

"I think the next 24 to 48 hours is the critical time which will tell us whether the village, which is where the main problem is now, has got enough accommodation for everybody to come into it," Mr Foster said. "It's a situation that hangs on a knife-edge."

He said it was possible that England could pull out of the Commonwealth Games if conditions do not improve.

"The safety of the athletes has to be our primary concern," Mr Foster said. "But equally, we cannot just respond to that alone, we have to evaluate the whole thing together and that is what we are doing."

There is a real possibility one country's withdrawal will trigger a domino effect among larger nations.

In Australia, Sport Minister Mark Arbib conceded it is possible the Australian team could pull out of the Commonwealth Games if the situation in India deteriorated.

But while Senator Arbib said the decision about whether to go to the games remained with individual athletes, he has also warned that the situation could change.

"At the moment ... the decision whether to go or not to go is a decision for athletes themselves. That is the way it is now, that's the way it has been for any large event," he said. "Obviously in terms of going forward things could change."

Australian Commonwealth Games Association chief Perry Crosswhite has said that abandoning the event had not been discussed by Australian officials.

Senator Arbib said the government was continuing to monitor the security situation in Delhi.

Perhaps if India and their neighbours spent less on nuclear arming themselves and more on their people we wouldn`t get so much of this bad news.

[Terry]

Perhaps if India and their neighbours spent less on nuclear arming themselves and more on their people we wouldn`t get so much of this bad news.

Too true

Living and working in Delhi over the last 15 months or so, I am appalled at the level of poverty, street begging and downright filth. This, from a country that keeps declaring itself 'World Class', boasts nuclear capabilities and yet cannot (and will not) take care of it's own.

The place is shite and the politicians and governors all desrve the worst possible punishment.

India / Delhi have had 7 or so years to get ready for this event and now, due to the rampant corruption and 'blame others' culture, it is turning into a farce.

[pharvey]

Five Star accommodation though

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/pictur ... llage.html

Nice.....!

[PeteC]

Some problems seem to be surfacing, but not a lot. Pete

http://l.wbx.me/l/?instId=043b5f83-34a6 ... s-fall.htm

[margaretcarnes]

The opening ceremony was a mess of under-rehearsed mistiming which didn't help to reassure viewers that all would be well.
BUT - despite that - the participants did look happy to be there (many apparently drawn from poor rural families) and it was very colourful.
The sand drawings projected onto the huge balloon were a neat idea and really effective. So overall the enthusiasm outweighed any lack of choreography!
Sadly though things rapidly went down hill later when it was found that a 100 yards isn't a 100 yards at all in India. It is being said that track measurements were done using a guy with a ball of string to pace them out. Presumably after he had finished cleaning the squattie potties to International hygiene standards.

[pharvey]

Yes, the ''weights & measures'' seems to have been a bit of a farce at these games - problems with the weigh in for boxing also.

They do seem to be putting the problems behind them and getting down to enjoying the experience though......

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... llage.html

[Terry]

I think the games are great

Apparantly, the route of the city cycle race blocks off both entrances to our office here in Delhi - so - no work tomorrow