Commonwealth Games

[Noodley]

Terrorist attacks, collapsing bridges, incomplete building work, and accomodation quoted as being 'unfit for human habitation'...and athletes withdrawing.

Does not look like it's gonna be a success!

 

[ColinJ]

I was just reading about that on the BBC news website.

Apparently the chief minister was praying to the rain god but it looks as though her prayers went unheeded!

College student Aditya Narayan says the event is a "sham" and blames Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit. 

"She said it would be the best the world has seen. But she has made a joke of our country."

With time fast running out, Mrs Dixit is seeking divine intervention.

"It appears that Lord Indra [the rain god] is unhappy with us," she said at the weekend.

"I will appeal to him to bring some sunshine. If the rain stops and sun comes out, we will be able to complete the work by 10-15 September. Otherwise we will have to extend the deadline.

"By the grace of god, we will be able to finish everything by 3 October."

 

[Bill Gates]

Of concern:


A top Commonwealth Games official suggested on Tuesday that complaints about hygiene and cleanliness in the Delhi athletes' village were due to the exacting demands of Western countries.

"Everyone has different standards about cleanliness. The Westerners have different standards, we have different standards," organising committee secretary-general Lalit Bhanot told a packed media conference.

He said, however, that the workers had been instructed to deliver "the quality of hygiene needed at the village to make our guests happy".

Not exactly what you want to hear if you're an athlete who has been training all year to compete. Also the footbridge connecting the car park to the stadium collapsing is appalling. I wouldn't go if it was me.

 

[rich p]

Time to kiss the Commonwealth Games goodbye I think. The athletes don't really care any more with more important, prestigious and lucrative events around these days.

 

[yello]

From the beeb

England's chef de mission Craig Hunter told BBC Hindi: "Our colleagues from Wales tell us that they had two dogs sleeping actually on the duvets which have been designed for the athletes. "Then the dogs jumped off the bed and went into the shower unit for the toilet and jumped back on to the bed."

Not looking good at all is it? .... unless you're a dog

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

From the beeb








Not looking good at all is it? .... unless you're a dog

At least they "crapped" in the shower. Much worse if done on the duvet.........

 

[Davidc]

One boost for the Games organisers came as it was confirmed the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will attend the opening ceremony.

Presumably their accomodation will have the dogs that just crapped in the shower sleeping on their duvet?

Be OK though - the corgis do that at home!

 

[davefb]

well,

you'd have thought india could have done better and they've still two weeks :-/ , but i'll just say this...


2002 was AMAZING!!!!!! bah, wish i'd not been hassled by work, but going out during the evening was fantastic, met people from all other the world , and even athletes!!! the feeling in the city was majestic,, utterly fantastic, if london is half as good, it'll be an amazing experience!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Only gets worse too, Glasgow next isn't it?



*ducks*

 

[fossyant]

My wife was like..."it's not THIS year is it" - looking at the reports...erm yes a couple of weeks away - OMG - looks a right shambles

 

[Theseus]

Just heard that they have had a ceiling collapse in the weightlifting arena - no-one injured. It was a suspended one, so not integral and can be fixed, but symptomatic of the general state of affairs. Not sure I would be happy about going if I was an athlete.

 

[PaulB]

BBC News- 'Building standards at the commonwealth games site shocking'.

I always though, as far as builders go, it was the 'cowboys' not the 'Indians' you had to watch out for?

 

[davefb]

My wife was like..."it's not THIS year is it" - looking at the reports...erm yes a couple of weeks away - OMG - looks a right shambles

this is the key issue isnt it,, apparently the games were won in 2003, but work didnt start till 2008... this was a major local issue in india, but all the time, the people involved just kept saying it would be okay..

though you have to wonder how come the organising people werent on top of it,, there have been other competitions which have been removed from countries because they were behind schedule , so how come india has managed to keep them?

 

[Keith Oates]

Well at least the UCI did a good thing, they gave the cyclists a good excuse to stay away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Globalti]

I read that the cycle repair workshop was going to be superb!