Further Doubts Cast Over Delhi Games

Doubts have been further raised over whether the Commonwealth Games in Delhi will go ahead after a bridge to the main stadium collapsed yesterday and teams have voiced yet more concerns over living conditions.

At least 19 people were injured when a foot bridge near the Jawaharlal Nehru Commonwealth Games stadium collapsed yesterday.

Preparations for the Games are set to go down to the wire and the event risks descending into farce with construction work still underway.

The Games, which are due to run from 3rd – 14th October, have been hampered by concerns over security and facilities.

Further more, three of Team England’s main competitors have pulled out of the Games.??Phillips Idowu cited the security problems as his main reason why he wont compete, whilst Christine Ohuruogu and Lisa Dobriskey have pulled out due to injury.

Team Scotland has delayed their departure to Delhi for the Commonwealth Games because of problems with the athletes’ village.??

The athletes’ village has been described as ‘unfit for human habitation,’ according to Scottish officials.??

Construction of the village is not yet complete with only 18 of the 34 complexes up and running.

But senior officials in Delhi have insisted that the Indian capital will be ready to host the Games.

Lalit Bhanot, secretary general of the Delhi organising committee, said: ‘Everyone has different standards about cleanliness. The Westerners have different standards, we have different standards.’

Bhanot said the situation was ‘under control’ and that he is ‘sure and confident’ that the rest of the village would be complete in time for the Games.