Concerns over Delhi Commonwealth Games village (living conditions "shocked majority of delegates")

[Turborama]

Source: BBC

The head of the Commonwealth Games has expressed concerns over the living conditions of the athletes in Delhi. Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell said the condition of the athletes village has "shocked the majority (of delegates)".

Mr Fennell's comments came after a number of participating countries have reportedly objected to the living conditions in the athletes village.

The Delhi Games are being held from 3 to 14 October.

Mr Fennell said in a statement that he had urged the Indian government to take immediate actions because "many issues remain unresolved." "The village is the cornerstone of any Games and the athletes deserve the best possible environment to prepare for their competition," he said.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11379020

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Australia, U.S. warn citizens as India probes shooting

Source: Reuters

By Bappa Majumdar in Delhi

Australia and the United States issued travel warnings Monday a day after two Taiwanese nationals were shot at near India's main mosque in the nation's capital and an explosion in a car at the same place.

=snip=

Indian authorities played down Sunday's shooting, saying it could be the work of local criminals. "It is a serious case, but we don't want to cause panic among people before the games," the interior ministry official said.

The Commonwealth Games, an event organized by the 54-member organization of mainly former British colonies and held every four years, begin on October 3.

But the Games in India threaten to become an embarrassment with organizers fighting corruption charges and struggling to get venues ready. The cost of the event has risen more than 17.5 times from the original estimate and is now put at $6 billion.

Full article: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68J13420100920

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Footbridge Collapse At Commonwealth Stadium

At least 23 people have been injured, five critically, after a footbridge collapsed near the Commonwealth Games stadium, say Delhi Police.

The footbridge, which linked a parking area with the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium fell just days before international athletes are due to arrive for the Games.

Nitin Gokhale, security editor for NDTV, told Sky News that most of the injured are thought to be construction workers, who were working ahead of the opening ceremony on 3 October.

He said the bridge could have been weakened by weeks of heavy rains in the area.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Commonwealth-Games-Delhi-Footbridge-Collapse-Near-Stadium-Leaves-At-Least-28-Injured/Article/201009315737908?lpos=World_News_Top_Stories_Header_1&lid=ARTICLE_15737908_Commonwealth_Games_Delhi%3A_Footbridge_Collapse_Near_Stadium_Leaves_At_Least_28_Injured

[Turborama]

2. I just saw that on Sky and was about to add it, glad I checked. Here's The Guardian on it:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/sep/21/commonwealth-games-unfit-human-habitation">Commonwealth Games in crisis after bridge collapse



Not sure whether that would or wouldn't be an LBN worthy article in and of itself but thanks for adding it here. :hi:

[Turborama]

3. BBC: Team Scotland bosses clean athletes' accommodation

Managers of Scotland's Commonwealth Games team have had to clean the athletes' accommodation to bring it up to standard before the games in Delhi.

The team arrived in India last week and found the athletes' block "unsafe and unfit for human habitation".

An alternative site was arranged but it still required "serious cleaning", according to a team statement.

The bosses have questioned whether the Games should go ahead on 3 October if the situation was not resolved.

Full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11379979

[Turborama]

4. Could Commonwealth Games be cancelled?

Tue Sep 21 2010

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - New Zealand team manager Dave Currie says next month’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi “may not happen” because organizers face severe difficulties in completing athletes accommodation.

Currie, who is in New Delhi, told New Zealand radio network newstalkZB on Tuesday there was now a serious prospect the games would be cancelled.

“I think they are in severe difficulties,” Currie said. “In the time frame that is left, unless there is tremendous effort and energy and problem-solving ability to get it done, I think it’s going to be extremely hard to get across the line.”

Currie said it was “extremely disappointing” when he arrived in New Delhi to find the New Zealand team’s accommodation was still under construction.

Full article: http://www.thespec.com/news/world/article/259887--could-commonwealth-games-be-cancelled


COMMONWEALTH Indian workers stand at the scene of
bridge collapse near Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in
New Delhi, India, Sept. 21, 2010.
Anupam Nath/AP

[ihavenobias]

5. Thanks for posting. n/t

[Blue_Tires]

6. This is starting to get ugly...

I heard the BBC radio on the way to work, and there have been widespread allegations of graft and corruption...What a mess





http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/events-tournaments/commonwealth-games/top-stories/Australia-TV-crew-brings-detonation-kit-into-venue/articleshow/6599504.cms

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2010/sep/21/whither-the-commonwealth-games

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/sep/21/commonwealth-games-unfit-human-habitation

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/commonwealthgames/8016654/Commonwealth-Games-2010-disastrous-build-up-has-killed-off-Indias-Olympic-dream.html

[Turborama]

7. Yep, there's talk of England and New Zealand pulling out

Craig Hunter, England's chef de mission, revealed he was calling for safety assurances from the organisers. "It's hard to cancel an event of this magnitude but we are close to the wire, and teams may start to take things into their own hands," he told the Press Association. "Athletes will start getting on planes soon and decisions will have to be made. We need new levels of reassurance." Some even threw doubt on whether the games could go ahead. New Zealand's chef de mission, Dave Currie, said: "The way things are looking, it's not up to scratch. The reality is that if the village is not ready and athletes can't come, the implications are that it's not going to happen." The Commonwealth Games Federation president, Michael Fennell, described the whole two-week event as "seriously compromised".

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/sep/21/commonwealth-games-collapse-bridge-delhi