Click to play videoNew Delhi: With the Games preparations in shameful conditions, and world champions pulling out of the Commonwealth Games citing security reasons, will enough athletes turn up for the various sporting events in October?
The latest to join the ‘pull out’ list are two Canadian archers Dietmar Trillus and Kevin Tataryn. They pulled out citing concerns over health and safety. And for those who haven’t pulled out of the Games, have put their travel plans on hold. The Canadian delegation consisting of the hockey team and a team of gymnasts have deferred their plans to visit Delhi for the Games.
With shocking pictures of the ‘unliveable’ conditions at the Games Village being splashed all over international press has led to negative publicity of the Games, which in its turn has played a role in the athletes being uncertain about visiting India.
Teams like England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Jersey have already announced their delay in departure. While individual teams like Australia, Canada, Scotland and England have already declined to come, teams such as New Zealand have put their travel plans on hold for the present.
“The athletes have delayed their plans of coming to Delhi because the Games Village is not ready,” said Michael Cavanagh, CWG Chairman, Scotland.
And if prominent athletes pulling out of the Games weren’t enough, the mess at the Games Village, which has been termed as “unliveable” by foreign delegates, has made matters worse.
From stray dogs roaming in the Village campus to them being found on beds meant for athletes, to filthy state of washrooms - all have added to the loss of face for the Organising Committee (OC) of the Games.
In addition, with only 10 days remaining, only 18 out of 34 towers meant for the athletes have been finished. The government has set a 34-hour deadline to clean up the mess.
Also, work in many of the stadia across Delhi remains incomplete. With only a little over a week left for the Games to begin, and athletes pulling out at the last moment, the OC has an uphill task ahead of it.
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