India's Commonwealth Games nightmare

[marmar]

Commonwealth Games: Canada and New Zealand delay departures
Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh under pressure to show country can turn around shambolic preparation for Games

Adam Gabbatt, Owen Gibson, and Jason Burke in Delhi
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 23 September 2010



Commonwealth Games: Indian labourers carry out repairs after a roof collapsed at the stadium. Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images


Pressure is mounting on officials in Delhi with the president of the Commonwealth Games due to arrive for crisis talks with the Indian prime minister and a growing number of countries demanding reassurances before they travel.

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Mike Fennell will seek guarantees from Manmohan Singh that India is capable of turning around its shambolic preparation for the Games in time for the opening ceremony on 3 October, following the collapse of a bridge and a venue roof and criticism of the athletes' village as being "unfit for human occupation".

The Scottish, Canadian and New Zealand teams have delayed their departures to India because of the "filthy" conditions, while the chairman of Commonwealth Games England, Sir Andrew Foster, said this morning that the English team was "reserving its position".

The Scottish team delayed the first batch of their 192 athletes, comprising 41 boxers, rugby players, wrestlers and support staff. The Wales team set a deadline of last night to receive reassurances from organisers that the athletes' village and venues would be "fit for purpose" and plan to discuss the issue further today.

The first batch of 22 English athletes will arrive in Delhi today as planned, although Foster this morning appeared to cast doubt on whether they will actually compete. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/sep/23/commonwealth-games-scotland-canada-new-zealand

[depakid]

1. Something the article doesn't mention:

Delhi slum razed to avoid offending luxury hotel guests

A SQUATTER settlement housing more than 2000 people adjacent to a new five-star hotel in Delhi has been demolished two weeks before the city hosts the Commonwealth Games.

Residents of the Netaji Nagar slum were furious at being thrown out of their homes before the Games, which organisers hope will showcase the Indian capital.

''You will play games while we will die,'' Mohammad Sajjad, a vegetable vendor who lived in the slum told The Age as he sifted through the ruins of his home.

Authorities had given notice that Netaji Nagar slum was due for demolition but residents claimed they were not given enough time to vacate before their houses were flattened by earthmovers on Friday evening.

''This has been my home for 25 years but now I've lost everything,'' a furious labourer, Basant Paswan, told The Age.



More: http://www.theage.com.au/world/delhi-slum-razed-to-avoid-offending-luxury-hotel-guests-20100919-15hvu.html

If that's not a recipe for "an incident" during the games, I don't know what is.

[Art_from_Ark]

2. That's just awful

Damn. Kicking people out and destroying their homes just to keep from "offending" the "sensibilities" of some sports fans. :puke:

[JI7]

3. India is not ready to host these type of large events

they have too many problems with corruption, they are horrible at fighting terrorism. they could never have pulled off what china did or south africa with the world cup .

[johnroshan]

4. +1. Very true. nt