Collapsing bridges. Star names withdrawing. And an athletes village with dogs in the duvets, rubble in the bedrooms and excrement where it shouldn't be. The Commonwealth Games in Delhi are currently suffering worse pre-event publicity than a Max Bialystock musical.
Events are moving fast. Mark Tweeted last night (UK time) that we would be thinking of discussing this on WHYS today; since then, three English athletes have withdrawn, the Scottish team has delayed its departure, and the head of the Commonwealth Games has set off for Delhi for talks with Indian officials.
Literally as I clicked "publish" on this blog entry, news came through that a ceiling had collapsed at the weight-lifting arena. Who knows what else will have happened by the time we go on air?
As the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Nick Bryant points out, all major events like this are dogged with problems in the build-up, only for things to be fine once the sport begins - but "there is something qualitatively different in Delhi, because the knocking stories ring so very true
However, Bryant adds:
Perhaps things will come good, as they so often do in India, at the last-minute and in the nick of time. And certainly, when I was working on World Cup Have Your Say earlier this year, I remember a number of fears raised right until kick-off - not least of rampaging crime, and even terrorism in the wake of events in Angola - which turned out to be completely unfounded.
Ultimately, it turned out the tournament was let down by the footballers, not the organisers. Is it possible that this is the case again - that the athletes' fussing is casting an unnecessary shadow on a country
India is a country that, cricket aside, punches well below its weight in sporting terms. If South Africa could be given a chance to transform its image via sport, surely the same leeway should be applied to India?
Back in January, Mike Fennell, the president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, blamed concerns about Delhi's preparations on "Western snobs."
The contrast between Western expectations and those of the Indian people themselves was highlighted by organising committee secretary-general Lalit Bhanot on Tuesday, when he said, "Everyone has different standards about cleanliness. The Westerners have different standards, we have different standards."
And he went on to insist that:
"This is a world-class village, probably one of the best ever. I have been to many Games over the years and therewas never a village of such high quality." So is this all fuss over nothing? Are the athletes pulling out letting India down? Or is the situation in Delhi a national disgrace? Should the Commonwealth Games be cancelled?
Your comments
Comment sent via Facebook
18:52
113631290
Ramesh
It is not the corruption alone, it is lack of planning, no clear foresight or vision and absolute pathetic standards despite all the exposure and visits the organisers have had - and I am left wondering what the organising committee and chairman who are stationed in Delhi for over 2 years were doing?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:42
113631290
Corky PLainfield in Indiana
As a sports enthusiast, I look forward to these kind of competitons as a means of seeing the new and upcoming athletes get to compete with older established athletes, regardless of the sport. I hope for the sake of all concerned that the games are able to go off, but from reports, that is very seriously in doubt.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:41
113631290
John in Nairobi
Why must countries always wait until the very last minute as if they are just realising that they are hosting an important tournament?Why should countries bid when they are unsure of successfully hosting a tournament?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:28
113631290
Jackson, Atlanta,
There is absolutely no way possible under the sun that India would not properly accommodate these athletes that they wanted so desperately to come. The athletes that are pulling out are acting like babies, In my opinion.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:28
113631290
Nikesh
India itself is responsible for this situation thanks to corruption and politics taking part. The world knows how capable india, remember the IPL series. there were no any complaints whatsoever, so its just the ignorance towards the commonwealth games.
Comment sent via SMS
18:15
114582102
Rian from Trinidad. I think India has gotten exactly what they deserve, failure! In a country where more that 50 percent of the population is homeless, spending millions of dollars no a sporting event is ridiculous. They need to got their priorities straight.
Comment sent via SMS
18:15
108513545
I lived in India for 9yrs in the 1970’s and 80’s. Since then, I’ve heard of all sorts of modernization and ’progress’, so it’s a real pleasure to hear that It’s still alive and not too sterile. Any athlete who doesn’t go is not is not an athlete. Banks, amsterdam
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:10
113631290
Ivan, Norway
Many athletes in the developing countries have worse living and training conditions. But when they compete with the rich nations it has always to be on rich man's premises.
Being self from one of the richest countries of the world, I am ashamed when I see such arrogance.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:07
113631290
Lesley in Delhi
I live in the colony behind the main games area. The recent rules being imposed on Delhi citizens by the government make it very clear that they don't see these games as being for us. Like many in my city, I am leaving for the duration of the games. I don't want to live in a police state during what was supposed to be a shining moment for us.
Comment sent via SMS
18:06
114548678
Clearly the games need to be cancelled. India needs to focus on improving its resources before holding such a major event. Alex in Chicago USA
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:04
113631290
Devesh in india emailed
Of course the Commonwealth Games must not be cancelled. And this is not out of "patriotic" concerns either. I am sure the Indian Government will not allow its guests to be treated to shabby treatment; that's not in our culture.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:03
113631290
Terry
I remember the news headlines before the Beijing Olympics.
And even Greece before that. Both were unfavourable.
Lets hope India can pull it together in time.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:03
113631290
Frederick in Accra
We should not cast out shrill criticisms on India. Similar evil comments were made about South Africa's hosting of the World Cup but we had a stupendous tournament. Lets put all hands on deck to support India regardless of the predicament.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:02
113631290
Usual Suspect in Zambia
They should have given the games to another country soon after they saw the pace of construction.how can athletes live in slum conditions?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:02
113631290
James in the UK
india had their chance and they blew it. if india can't manage events like this then they will always be a third world nation.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:02
113631290
Abdul Freetown
the commonwealth games in delhi should be cancelled due to most recently bridge collapse,and athletes complaining of filthy and uninhabitable accommodation that's really bad.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:01
113631290
Mercy in Kampala
I thought lots of under ground work is done before a country is allowed to host international functions?
Should the Commonwealth Games be cancelled?
| Wednesday, 9 Sept. 2010 | 17:38 - 19:00 GMT
Collapsing bridges. Star names withdrawing. And an athletes village with dogs in the duvets, rubble in the bedrooms and excrement where it shouldn't be.
The Commonwealth Games in Delhi are currently suffering worse pre-event publicity than a Max Bialystock musical.
Events are moving fast. Mark Tweeted last night (UK time) that we would be thinking of discussing this on WHYS today; since then, three English athletes have withdrawn, the Scottish team has delayed its departure, and the head of the Commonwealth Games has set off for Delhi for talks with Indian officials.
Literally as I clicked "publish" on this blog entry, news came through that a ceiling had collapsed at the weight-lifting arena. Who knows what else will have happened by the time we go on air?
As the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Nick Bryant points out, all major events like this are dogged with problems in the build-up, only for things to be fine once the sport begins - but "there is something qualitatively different in Delhi, because the knocking stories ring so very true
However, Bryant adds:
Perhaps things will come good, as they so often do in India, at the last-minute and in the nick of time.
And certainly, when I was working on World Cup Have Your Say earlier this year, I remember a number of fears raised right until kick-off - not least of rampaging crime, and even terrorism in the wake of events in Angola - which turned out to be completely unfounded.
Ultimately, it turned out the tournament was let down by the footballers, not the organisers. Is it possible that this is the case again - that the athletes' fussing is casting an unnecessary shadow on a country
India is a country that, cricket aside, punches well below its weight in sporting terms. If South Africa could be given a chance to transform its image via sport, surely the same leeway should be applied to India?
Back in January, Mike Fennell, the president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, blamed concerns about Delhi's preparations on "Western snobs."
The contrast between Western expectations and those of the Indian people themselves was highlighted by organising committee secretary-general Lalit Bhanot on Tuesday, when he said, "Everyone has different standards about cleanliness. The Westerners have different standards, we have different standards."
And he went on to insist that:
"This is a world-class village, probably one of the best ever. I have been to many Games over the years and therewas never a village of such high quality."
So is this all fuss over nothing? Are the athletes pulling out letting India down? Or is the situation in Delhi a national disgrace? Should the Commonwealth Games be cancelled?
Your comments
Comment sent via Facebook
Ramesh It is not the corruption alone, it is lack of planning, no clear foresight or vision and absolute pathetic standards despite all the exposure and visits the organisers have had - and I am left wondering what the organising committee and chairman who are stationed in Delhi for over 2 years were doing?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Corky PLainfield in Indiana As a sports enthusiast, I look forward to these kind of competitons as a means of seeing the new and upcoming athletes get to compete with older established athletes, regardless of the sport. I hope for the sake of all concerned that the games are able to go off, but from reports, that is very seriously in doubt.
Comment sent via Facebook
John in Nairobi Why must countries always wait until the very last minute as if they are just realising that they are hosting an important tournament?Why should countries bid when they are unsure of successfully hosting a tournament?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Jackson, Atlanta, There is absolutely no way possible under the sun that India would not properly accommodate these athletes that they wanted so desperately to come. The athletes that are pulling out are acting like babies, In my opinion.
Comment sent via Facebook
Nikesh India itself is responsible for this situation thanks to corruption and politics taking part. The world knows how capable india, remember the IPL series. there were no any complaints whatsoever, so its just the ignorance towards the commonwealth games.
Comment sent via SMS
Rian from Trinidad. I think India has gotten exactly what they deserve, failure! In a country where more that 50 percent of the population is homeless, spending millions of dollars no a sporting event is ridiculous. They need to got their priorities straight.
Comment sent via SMS
I lived in India for 9yrs in the 1970’s and 80’s. Since then, I’ve heard of all sorts of modernization and ’progress’, so it’s a real pleasure to hear that It’s still alive and not too sterile. Any athlete who doesn’t go is not is not an athlete. Banks, amsterdam
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Ivan, Norway Many athletes in the developing countries have worse living and training conditions. But when they compete with the rich nations it has always to be on rich man's premises. Being self from one of the richest countries of the world, I am ashamed when I see such arrogance.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Lesley in Delhi I live in the colony behind the main games area. The recent rules being imposed on Delhi citizens by the government make it very clear that they don't see these games as being for us. Like many in my city, I am leaving for the duration of the games. I don't want to live in a police state during what was supposed to be a shining moment for us.
Comment sent via SMS
Clearly the games need to be cancelled. India needs to focus on improving its resources before holding such a major event. Alex in Chicago USA
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Devesh in india emailed Of course the Commonwealth Games must not be cancelled. And this is not out of "patriotic" concerns either. I am sure the Indian Government will not allow its guests to be treated to shabby treatment; that's not in our culture.
Comment sent via Facebook
Terry I remember the news headlines before the Beijing Olympics. And even Greece before that. Both were unfavourable. Lets hope India can pull it together in time.
Comment sent via Facebook
Frederick in Accra We should not cast out shrill criticisms on India. Similar evil comments were made about South Africa's hosting of the World Cup but we had a stupendous tournament. Lets put all hands on deck to support India regardless of the predicament.
Comment sent via Facebook
Usual Suspect in Zambia They should have given the games to another country soon after they saw the pace of construction.how can athletes live in slum conditions?
Comment sent via Facebook
James in the UK india had their chance and they blew it. if india can't manage events like this then they will always be a third world nation.
Comment sent via Facebook
Abdul Freetown the commonwealth games in delhi should be cancelled due to most recently bridge collapse,and athletes complaining of filthy and uninhabitable accommodation that's really bad.
Comment sent via Facebook
Mercy in Kampala I thought lots of under ground work is done before a country is allowed to host international functions?