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Athletes arrive in New Dehli
Source: Agencies |
September 25, 2010, Saturday
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IN a boost for India's beleaguered preparations for the Commonwealth Games, two top international sports officials said yesterday that conditions at the squalid athletes' village had greatly improved, though they said cleanup work should continue urgently.
After holding its team back because of the problems, New Zealand decided yesterday to attend the games. And the first foreign athletes -- the English field hockey and lawn bowling teams -- arrived in New Delhi, though they planned to stay in hotels for a few days before moving to the village.
"Everybody is very excited, wants to get there, you know, get in with the action and get going really," Caroline Searle, spokeswoman for the English team, said as the athletes left the airport.
Some athletes later toured the village to assess the conditions.
"The flats are spacious, which is good for a major games, but there are bits and pieces to be done to bring them up to standard," field hockey player Ben Middleton said in a statement. "A couple of days will make a difference."
The games were intended to be a source of international pride for India, but corruption scandals, huge delays in getting facilities ready and the filthy conditions at the games village have turned the event into an embarrassment for the emerging Asian power.
At least nine athletes have withdrawn from the games in recent days because of concern for their health and safety, and the president of Australia's Olympic Committee said yesterday that India should not have been awarded the games in the first place.
Amid the criticism this week about conditions in the village, India committed major resources to rectifying the problems before the games, which bring together about 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories beginning on October 3.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held an emergency meeting on Thursday night and demanded that officials make sure the games were successful.
Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell, who rushed to New Delhi to deal with the troubles, toured the village yesterday and met with top athletic officials from participating countries. He will also meet with Indian Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar, the prime minister's top aide for the games.
Fennel's staff informed him that "considerable improvements have been made within the village," he said.
"It is vital that all remedial work that has already started continues with the greatest urgency," he said.
The head of Australia's Commonwealth Games Association, Perry Crosswhite, was upbeat as well.
"I am very pleased with the village as of now," he said in New Delhi.
There were still problems with water in the basement inside the village, but Delhi officials promised it would be fixed by late last night, he said.
Crosswhite said "as of now" the Australian team would arrive in Delhi on Monday. "We are on for the games," he said.
Athletes from New Zealand will also attend but officials will review progress around their accommodation and security daily, the New Zealand Olympic Committee announced yesterday.
The optimism signaled a change from earlier this week when team officials expressed horror at the conditions at the village -- including excrement in rooms and problems with plumbing, wiring and furnishings.
Nevertheless, criticism continued, with Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates saying India should not have been given the games.
After holding its team back because of the problems, New Zealand decided yesterday to attend the games. And the first foreign athletes -- the English field hockey and lawn bowling teams -- arrived in New Delhi, though they planned to stay in hotels for a few days before moving to the village.
"Everybody is very excited, wants to get there, you know, get in with the action and get going really," Caroline Searle, spokeswoman for the English team, said as the athletes left the airport.
Some athletes later toured the village to assess the conditions.
"The flats are spacious, which is good for a major games, but there are bits and pieces to be done to bring them up to standard," field hockey player Ben Middleton said in a statement. "A couple of days will make a difference."
The games were intended to be a source of international pride for India, but corruption scandals, huge delays in getting facilities ready and the filthy conditions at the games village have turned the event into an embarrassment for the emerging Asian power.
At least nine athletes have withdrawn from the games in recent days because of concern for their health and safety, and the president of Australia's Olympic Committee said yesterday that India should not have been awarded the games in the first place.
Amid the criticism this week about conditions in the village, India committed major resources to rectifying the problems before the games, which bring together about 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories beginning on October 3.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held an emergency meeting on Thursday night and demanded that officials make sure the games were successful.
Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell, who rushed to New Delhi to deal with the troubles, toured the village yesterday and met with top athletic officials from participating countries. He will also meet with Indian Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar, the prime minister's top aide for the games.
Fennel's staff informed him that "considerable improvements have been made within the village," he said.
"It is vital that all remedial work that has already started continues with the greatest urgency," he said.
The head of Australia's Commonwealth Games Association, Perry Crosswhite, was upbeat as well.
"I am very pleased with the village as of now," he said in New Delhi.
There were still problems with water in the basement inside the village, but Delhi officials promised it would be fixed by late last night, he said.
Crosswhite said "as of now" the Australian team would arrive in Delhi on Monday. "We are on for the games," he said.
Athletes from New Zealand will also attend but officials will review progress around their accommodation and security daily, the New Zealand Olympic Committee announced yesterday.
The optimism signaled a change from earlier this week when team officials expressed horror at the conditions at the village -- including excrement in rooms and problems with plumbing, wiring and furnishings.
Nevertheless, criticism continued, with Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates saying India should not have been given the games.
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