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XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi |
September 29, 2010
Five top cyclists withdraw from CWG
September 24, 2010
There is no stopping individual pullouts from the crisis-ridden Commonwealth Games with five leading cyclists becoming the latest to withdraw citing fears of catching dengue fever and the unsanitary condition of the athletes village.
Welsh world and Olympic champion Geraint Thomas, Isle of Man rider Peter Kennaugh and the England pair of Ben Swift and Ian Stannard, said they were opting out of the Games as they feared for their health after reading reports about the dengue outbreak and the filthy conditions at the Games Village.
Its a massive disappointment first and foremost but with the hygiene and the risk of getting ill, it was a massive risk, said Thomas, who competes in the 4,000 metres individual pursuit, the road race and the time trial.
Kennaugh said he had similar fears about competing in the event, the build-up to which has gone from bad to worse due to shoddy construction work and allegations of corruption.
I have been worried about the situation in New Delhi for some time, particularly since the dengue fever situation became apparent a couple of weeks ago, he said.
Then, just recently, we have seen the pictures from the village and that made my mind up for me, he was quoted as saying by
The Daily Telegraph.
The pictures from the Village showed filthy toilets, stained walls and dirty rooms for athletes adding to the woes of the organisers who are struggling to convince participating nations about the preparations for the Games.
David Brailsford, the Performance Director of British Cycling, refuted suggestions that the riders had been told to pull out, saying that the decision was entirely theirs.
Given the situation they have found themselves in with the Commonwealth Games, nobody would blame the athletes for staying away, but there is no instruction from Team Sky on this issue, he said.
Henderson pulls out of CWG
Former world champion road cyclist Greg Henderson became the first selected New Zealand athlete to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games, saying there are too many risks in going to Delhi for the troubled event.
Henderson, who was left shaken after seeing pictures showing filthy conditions at the Games Village, has informed the New Zealand cycling body about his decision to withdraw.
There are just too many risks and in this situation the cons outweigh the pros. Who knows exactly whats gone on there, said Henderson, who is in Melbourne to compete in the road cycling world championships next week.
Realistically its probably going to be OK and the Games will go on. But where I am in my career, at the moment the negatives outweigh the pros, he was quoted as saying by
The Sydney Morning Herald.
Henderson said he reconsidered his decision to compete in the Games at the insistence of his wife and kids.
Its about my family, its not just about Greg Henderson any more, Ive got to think about my wife (former Australian Olympic cyclist medallist Katie Mactier) and little girl Charlie and they dont want me going to the Commonwealth Games, Henderson said.
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India bribed 72 nations to get Delhi CWG: Report
September 24, 2010
MELBOURNE: India bribed 72 Commonwealth countries $100,000 each to get the hosting rights for the scandal-hit 19th edition of the Games which will start in Delhi from October 3-14, a media report claimed.
A report in the Daily Telegraph claimed that Delhi pipped Hamilton in the bid after offering huge sums of money to the 72 Commonwealth countries during the final presentation in Jamaica.
The report also said that Australia received a kickback of $125,000 from India.
"Delhi sealed the right to host the Games when their delegates emerged at the final presentation in Jamaica and offered all 72 nations $100,000 (then about $140,000) each for athlete training schemes if they were the successful bidders," the newspaper reported.
"The money, subsequently paid to all nations, was not significant to Australia because it had already decided to vote for India and the payment was not an exceptionally large one.
"But for small nations who have minimal interest in the Games, it clinched their vote and India went on to beat Canadian city Hamilton 46-22 in the final poll. Hamilton had offered the nations about $70,000 each," it said.
Read more: here
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Manmohan steps in, wants officials to put up a good show
September 23, 2010
With just 10 days left for the start of the Commonwealth Games, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh went into damage control mode on Thursday. Against the backdrop of growing international criticism of India's preparedness to hold the Games, Dr. Singh called an emergency meeting of Union ministers and others responsible for the sporting event.
The meeting, sources said, focussed on the abysmal state of the Games Village, where sportspersons are to be accommodated and which has become the subject of much of the negative publicity India has been receiving at home and abroad in the last few days.
The Prime Minister, sources said, impressed on those who had gathered the importance of putting up a good show. The Prime Minister can't be indifferent to what has been happening, the sources told The Hindu.
After the meeting, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna told journalists that every effort was being made to reach the expected standards, and that the visiting sportspersons would be welcomed in the best tradition of Indian hospitality.
The meeting was attended by Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill, Mr. Khanna, and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon and Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrashekhar were also present.
The meeting took place a day after Mr. Chandrasekhar directed the Delhi government to take control of the maintenance of the Games Village. More than 1,500 workers were called in early on Thursday morning to clean up the village. Both the Secretary-General of the Games Organising Committee and Ms. Dikshit personally supervised the cleanliness drive.
At the August 14 meeting Dr. Singh directed the concerned Ministries to conduct thorough investigations into all procedural and other irregularities and promised that those found guilty [would] face severe and exemplary punishment. A crack team of civil servants was set up to monitor the work on the stadiums.
It is learnt that Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell, who wanted to meet the Prime Minister, was told, government sources said, that there was no reason for him to meet the Prime Minister. Instead, he could meet either the Cabinet Secretary or any of the members of the Group of Ministers on the Commonwealth Games.
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Bridge collapses near CWG main venue, 23 injured
September 21, 2010
╚ CWG DELHI 2010 | Bridge collapses near CWG main venue, 23 injured!! ╝
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