India given 48hrs to save its Games
23 Sep 2010
The organisers of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi have 48 hours to save the event.
Commonwealth Games Federation chairman Mike Fennel arrives in the crisis-hit host city tomorrow and is likely to make a final decision after he has seen the notorious accommodation for athletes, which some claim is unfit for human habitation.
Scotland yesterday grounded the first flight that was due to fly from Glasgow Airport carrying athletes. The team still require a number of assurances before they participate in the event, which is due to open on October 3. However, Scottish Games Council chairman Michael Cavanagh will this morning ask senior Games officials in Delhi to spend the day conducting a full evaluation. There are signs of movement, and we will do everything we can to get the team there, Mr Cavanagh told The Herald.
He added: We are very close to very strange circumstances right now. Its almost unbelievable we have got to this stage, and we have such a dysfunctional village, and, to be blunt, dysfunctional organising committee.
First Minister Alex Salmond said yesterday that the Scottish Government wholeheartedly supported the decision after he chaired a meeting that was also attended by the organisers of the Glasgow 2014 Games, Government officials, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life and Sportscotland.
Sports Minister Shona Robison added: We need to see immediate action from the Indian Government and the Commonwealth Games Federation to resolve these concerns, and we are making the strongest possible representations to that effect. The safety of our athletes is paramount.
Mr Cavanagh accused the Indian government of inaction, and levelled serious criticism at Suresh Kalmadi, chair of the organising committee and Indian Olympic Committee (IOC).
It came after the organising committee suffered further humiliation with the partial collapse of the roof of the wrestling venue at the main sports complex, and just a day after 23 people had been injured in the collapse of a footbridge leading to the main stadium.
Concerns over the readiness of the facilities have also been heightened by security fears after the Sunday shooting of two tourists outside one of the citys top attractions. An Islamic militant group took responsibility for the shooting.
Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit was among senior Indian government officials who dismissed of abandoning the Games, dismissing the incidents as minor glitches.
Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar, appointed by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to oversee Delhis preparations, said: The cables which were to be set up for the data network were placed on the false ceiling and due to the weight of the cables the ceiling fell down. Its a minor thing and it will be corrected. Its not a matter to be worried about.
However, Foreign minister, SM Krishna, told the BBC: Let me assure you on behalf of the government of India and the people of India that we will see to it that the Commonwealth Games are conducted according to international standards, and the athletes who come to participate in these games will feel quite happy about their conditions.
Meanwhile, Mr Cavanagh ridiculed the organisers dismissal of criticism of excrement and squalor in the athletes village. Indian officials suggested this was simply a matter of national perceptional differences in standards of cleanliness.
You will have seen the public statements made . . . in the last few days, he added.
Its ridiculous. I heard Suresh Kalmadi say we have a world-class infrastructure in places that have been ready for 15 days. We know that not to be the case, and it would really be helpful for all of us if they stopped making public statements about how good things are, and actually got some work done to make them the way they should be.
Mr Cavanagh and the Team Scotland chef de mission Jon Doig made it clear they would abide by the guidance of the Commonwealth Games Federation as to whether the event is safe.
India given 48hrs to save its Games - Herald Scotland | News | World News
