Doubts Over Village Hit Games

Source: www.sportinglife.com

Commonwealth Games England have called for "urgent" work to be done in Delhi before athletes begin arriving on Friday for next month's Games amid worries over "plumbing, electrical and other operational details".

The athletes' village has been criticised by Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell, and CGE have now raised their own doubts.

And a CGE statement read: "Commonwealth Games England remains optimistic that England participation at the Games can go ahead.

"However there is a lot still to be done in the village and this needs to be done with some urgency so that it is ready for the arrival of our first athletes on Friday.

"Since our first inspection, monsoon weather has highlighted a number of different issues which need to be addressed including plumbing, electrical and other operational details."

Just two weeks ahead of the Games, which run from October 3-14, Fennell admitted there are areas of concern about the athletes' village and described the village as "seriously compromised".

Fennell has written to the Indian Cabinet Secretary expressing his doubts and stating that countries who had sent advance parties to Delhi ahead of their athletes had found matters with the accommodation were unresolved.

Fennell said in a statement: "Final preparations for the Commonwealth Games village have been of concern to the CGF since viewing the residential zone along with a number of Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) advance parties on September 15.

"Many issues remain unresolved and as such last night I wrote to the Indian Cabinet Secretary, expressing my great concern with the preparedness of the athletes' village to welcome the teams of the Commonwealth for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

"The village is the cornerstone of any Games and the athletes deserve the best possible environment to prepare for their competition.

"Many nations that have already sent their advanced parties to set up within the village have made it abundantly clear that, as of the afternoon of September 20, the Commonwealth Games village is seriously compromised.

New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie admitted the facilities were not of the standard expected.

He told Newstalk ZB: "The way things are looking, it's not up to scratch.

"The reality is that if the village is not ready and athletes can't come, the implications are that it's not going to happen.

"It is unacceptable from the organising committee that they have put athletes through this."

Fennell revealed that the high security measures now in place at the Games mean work which ought to have been completed earlier is taking longer to complete.

He added: "Since the nations have been arriving at the village they have been all commented favourably on the appearance of the international zone and the main dining area.

"However, the condition of the residential zone has shocked the majority of CGAs that are in Delhi and, despite their attempts to work with the organising committee in a constructive manner since arriving on September 15, significant operational matters remain un-addressed.

"The problems are arising because deadlines for the completion of the village have been consistently pushed out. Now, the high security around the site, while vital, is slowing progress and complicating solutions.

"Security remains of the utmost importance to the CGF and our advisors continue to monitor the situation. Currently, this matter remains on track.

"However, with the village to be officially opened on September 23, timely acceptable solutions to prepare for the arrival of athletes are of paramount importance.

"The CGF has asked the Cabinet Secretary to immediately deploy the necessary resources to fix all the outstanding issues to an acceptable level.

"CGF CEO Mike Hooper and his staff are already in Delhi and are keeping me constantly informed of the situation and developments.

"I will arrive in Delhi at the earliest opportunity so as to assess the situation first hand and provide our member countries and territories with a frank assessment of the situation.

"The CGF remains committed to open and transparent communication with our members and their athletes."