With a thumbs-up, guess who holds India hand? Pak
The Malaysian and Botswanian teams today joined the ranks of those complaining against the state of affairs in the Commonwealth Games Village, while the South African envoy cried "a threat to the lives of athletes" after a snake was found in one of the rooms allotted to the country's sportspersons.
However, there was good news on at least one front for the beleaguered Commonwealth Games officials: Pakistan. Not only have officials from the country given a thumbs-up to the arrangements and security preparedness for the Games, but also accused "Westerners" of being overly critical.
"We have been given complete assurance by the organisers and our security liaison officer is in India at the moment. We trust the Indian government to provide full protection, and we have no security concerns. Hopefully our entire 75-member contingent will be in India on the 29th as planned," Pakistan Olympic Association president Syed Arif Hasan told The Indian Express on Sunday.
In present times, Hasan noted, no country can assure completely incident-free events, except guaranteeing foolproof security. "We have had teams in India before and not had any problems," he said.
While Hasan added that "it would have obviously been better if the infrastructure had been ready in advance", he said he understood that there could be delays. "We have also had floods and a lot of rain, and the country is reeling under its effects. So nature cannot be predicted or controlled. Even in Athens there were concerns till the last minute but the Olympics went off brilliantly," the Pakistan Olympic Association chief said.
Chaudhary Muhammed Asghar, secretary of the Pakistan Wrestling Federation, saw in the criticism the inability of "Europeans and Australians to accept the fact that India has not only been awarded the Games but that it will also manage to hold them properly".
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With a thumbs-up, guess who holds India hand: Pak
"They have always had a problem with any organisational success in India or Pakistan. Even in cricket, they had a problem initially. And it is unfortunate that we Asians, on our part, seem to hold their opinion in high esteem," he said. "Inshallah, the Games will be a huge success."
Asghar will arrive on Monday to take charge of the ground situation, including accommodation.
Pakistan hockey's star striker Rehan Butt said that whether it was india or Pakistan, the foreign media had the tendency to blow up negative things and ignore the positives.
"It's not like things are perfect elsewhere. As a international player, I have experienced Games villages at several events and in various countries and I can say that though things are generally ready in advance, it doesn't mean they are all perfectly done or managed," he said.
"For all those cribbing right now about the facilities, they must be asked about the facilities provided at the 2002 Melbourne Games, which were far from satisfactory."
Butt also felt that the West should understand that any country hosting a major event for the first time needed to be encouraged, and not pulled down.
Saying his players were all set to leave for the Games, Pakistan Tennis Federation Secretary Major Rashid Khan pointed out that they had never encountered any problem in India. "We have Aisam-ul-Haq playing in India often, and Aqeel Khan has travelled umpteen times. We have never had a problem. We have full faith in Anil Khanna (All India Tennis Association secretary general) and the Indian government, and there are absolutely no concerns."
Criticising the "superiority complex" of the Europeans, he said they travel all over the world but have complaints only when they come to this part of the world. "Unhe machhar bhi dikhne lagte hain, safai se bhi problem hone lagti hai, khane ki bhi problem ho jati hai, mausam me kharabi milti hai (They start seeing mosquitoes, having problems with the cleanliness, the food, the weather...)."
