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With only weeks left to the
commencement of the 2010
Commonwealth
Games, dark clouds
are hovering over the event – in more
ways than one. The Games have
turned into a major challenge for
authorities in the country for various
reasons and the recent flooding from
monsoonal rains is not helping.
During the last year there have
been numerous reports of shoddy
workmanship leading to dangerous
structures, massive cost overruns
and missed completion dates. Many
Commonwealth Games venues in
New Delhi have yet to be completed
and even those that are may not
be up to standard. According to an
Australian Associated Press (AAP)
report, “The Indian government
has missed a deadline to certify all
Commonwealth Games sporting
venues are structurally sound and
safe.”
Allegations of corruption have also
mired the games preparations forcing
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
to order investigations. The cost of
the event has risen over 17.5 times
from its first budget estimate and
the Central Vigilance Commission,
the government’s anti-corruption
watchdog, has identified 16 projects
where financial irregularities are
suspected.
There has also been widespread
concern over security issues. Hardly
a good advert for one of the world’s
major sporting events.
And now worried over the spread of
dengue fever in Delhi, 24 countries
have written to the Commonwealth
Games
Organising
Committee
seeking information about the
situation and measures being
adopted to check the disease ahead
of the event. The city has reported
over 1,000 cases of dengue this year
until now and mosquito breeding has
been detected in many Games sites.
Officials cited stagnation of water at
various Games related construction
sites as one of the main reasons for
the spread of the disease this year.
However, at least the authorities
have moved to improve the air quality
in Delhi for the Games by closing
the Indraprastha Coal Based Power
Plant.
But it is perhaps more of a concern
that some of the top athletes are not
attending and major sports figures
are openly questioning the continued
relevance of the games.
Former Indian cricket captain Bishen
Bedi has called on athletes to boycott
the Games as a result of the delays
and the controversy over corruption
which has engulfed organisers and
Dawn Fraser recently raised the
spectre of a 1972 Munich Olympics-
type attack, urging athletes to
consider boycotting the Games and
questioning their relevance.
Neither seems to have galvanised
support for a wholesale boycott by
nations but worryingly a number
of top athletes will be missing from
the event. Olympic champion Sir
Chris Hoy, Jessica Ennis, Australia’s
“Golden Girl” Stephanie Rice and
Usain Bolt, the undisputed star of the
Commonwealth, will not be there. The
inclusion of tennis on the schedule at
this year’s Commonwealth Games
hasn’t exactly seen the big names
flocking to Delhi to compete, and there
is little surprise that Andy Murray,
Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur
will bemissing tennis’ Commonwealth
debut.
Does this signify that there is a
growing disinterest by athletes and
spectators toward theCommonwealth
Games? Are the games perceived to
be a second rate event?
Even in India the Games
are, apparently, a hard sell.
According to AAP, by the end
of August only two percent of
tickets had been sold – around
50,000 tickets from a total
of 2.3 million available. The
television networks are trying
hard to increase the anticipation
and excitement without any
appreciable effect.
However, the Games still
provide great sporting moments
and there are still a large
number of top class athletes
who will do what is necessary
The Commonwealth Games consists of 17 Sports:
Aquatics, Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling,
Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby Sevens,
Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Tennis, Weightlifting,
Wrestling.
to get the opportunity to compete
for their country at a major sporting
event. Despite the many issues,
most athletes are looking forward to
the event and showing what they can
do. And why shouldn’t they be? To
represent your country at one of the
premier sporting events in the world
is a tremendous achievement.
England’s triple jump 2009 world
champion, Phillips Idowu said “I’m
looking forward to going out and
defending my title; it’s great to pull on
an England vest…”
Tom Daley, 16, Britain’s diving world
champion, will be one of England’s
most high-profile participants, in a
45-strong swimming team to compete
against the likes of world number two
swimming nation Australia, the re-
emergingCanadian teamand a strong
South African squad. And whether
it is squash, hockey, gymnastics,
boxing or any of the other sports, you
can be sure that some of the best
athletes and teams in the world will
be completing for gold at the Games.
However, the organisers have a duty
to the athletes, the Commonwealth
Games and to India to make sure
that the Games go ahead on
schedule, are played out safely in
high quality facilities and are feast of
sporting triumphs. An unsuccessful
Delhi Games will only intensify the
relevance debate and could herald
the beginning of the end for the
Commonwealth Games.
New Delhi Games – Trials and tribulations
An anachronistic irrelevance?
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