Rafa

sandy track. Abuja could do better

That guys used a giant pool scoop and what he picked up was either a gigantic moth or a debris. I watched it live.

debris in the pool?

How can it not trump London's?

where are the people?

So excited. Been waiting for this since the snooze fest of Melbourne. Anyway, Dikshit just said Delhi needed a "central command authority"...no **** Sherlock, have they not heard of the ODA? She says though its not her fault since nobody listens to her.

Good news that the village is now a decent living standard? That a bridge has been fixed? That the migrant workers have now been sent home? I'm sorry but I am not about to praise the basics India is putting in place in a rush which should have been ready months ago. We all want good safe Games for the athletes and the improvements are what was required, not some special bonus. The filth in the rooms was real, and now the clean rooms are real too.

this is why you need an ODA. Delhi has been a great example of what happens without one. 21 disjoint authorities, including an "archaeological survey" department delivering venues rather than a single body controlling timelines and handing out work to public and private sector, everybody on the same page. A single planning process and theme.

Difference in Delhi is that these are real stories not scare-mongering. There bridge and building collapses are real, happening, its not a story about potential violence or potential earthquakes in South Africa, but actual violence. Once the venues in South Africa were complete, the "venue" stories became scare-mongering far fetched but highly imaginative stories of gangs roaming streets etc.

I really can't remember South Africa facing these "issues" especially when venues were ready months before on par with the Beijing Games.

super competent SASCOC.

Business: Location: <br clear="all"> Auto Dealers Auto Repair Bar Carpet Cleaning Child Care Chocolate Coffee Dentist Doctor Florists Furniture Golf Course Gym Hair Salon Hotels Insurance Jewelry Landscaping Locksmith Movers Pizza Plumbing Realtor Remodeling Storage Browse all » by MojoPages Sports Share this article: 0 Comments Email this article Facebook Tweet Digg Print this article Print print SAfrica Olympic boss: 'I'll clean toilets myself' Associated Press Posted on September 26, 2010 at 8:01 AM JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The president of South Africa's Olympic committee says he will clean toilets himself to help India's crisis-hit Commonwealth Games. Gideon Sam said Sunday that the South African team would not complain at the Oct. 3-14 Games in a show of unity with a fellow developing nation. Sam was quoted by the South African Press Agency as saying: "if they are unhappy with their rooms because they have not been swept, they must take off their jackets and sweep them themselves." Sam added that "if a toilet is not clean, I will clean it myself." South Africa's team departed for New Delhi later Sunday. Games organizers have been severely criticized for a lack of cleanliness in the athletes' village, construction issues and security problems.

Snake in athlete's room at Games Village Quote: NEW DELHI: There seems to be no end to the problems confronting the organisers of the Commonwealth Games with the South African envoy here claiming that a snake was found in an athlete's room in the Village. A snake was found in a room in the residential tower, earmarked for the South African athletes, who have not arrived yet, High Commissioner Harris Mbulelo Mejeke told reporters. "We can't go and stay till things are fixed up. We have very grave concerns. If snakes are found we can't ask our teams to stay there. Yesterday we found a snake but I don't know whether it was an Indian snake. But it was there in one of our rooms," Mejeke said before entering the Village. "That was a threat to the lives of our athletes. Very disappointing. Basically, the basement was full of water and the staircase was also damp," he said. On being asked if he brought the matter to the notice of the organisers, he said, "We had someone with us. They have promised us, everything will be all right. I will go and check whether the promise has been kept," he said. However, the South African envoy said there team will not withdraw from the controversy-marred event. "The teams are coming and we are still part of the Commonwealth Games. When everything will be done we will call our teams," Mjeke said. The Village has already been sharply criticised for the unhygienic conditions and now the sensational claim would bring more bad publicity to the event. Source

Have I mentioned I really like the Dutch anthem..?

Its still amazing how there is still this obsession amongst Indian forumers to compare venues and the Games in general to KL, MAN, and MELB. I mean really....pave your entrances, fix your ceilings, and paint the walls before you even begin to make some sort of comparison.

24 hours to save the Commonwealth Games: Clegg warns time is running out after Delhi stadium ceiling falls in By Richard Shears Last updated at 12:24 AM on 23rd September 2010 England boss admits competition is 'on a knife-edge' Scotland team confirms it has delayed its departure to Delhi Countries worried by 'unsafe and unfit for human habitation' Australian film crew enter stadium with bomb kit undetected Phillips Idowu, Christine Ohuruogu and Lisa Dobriskey pull out Beleaguered organisers of the crisis-hit Delhi Commonwealth Games, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg warned yesterday. As officials scrambled to save the showpiece event, the England team described its future as being on a 'knife edge' and said the next 24 hours would be vital in deciding whether to send its competitors. Some nations have warned the games may have to be cancelled or postponed unless facilities in the village which will house 7,000 athletes are dramatically and rapidly improved. Questions: Nick Clegg seen meeting students in New York yesterday Several top athletes have pulled out while Scotland has delayed sending some of its athletes and Wales gave administrators for the games a deadline to confirm all venues and the games village are fit for purpose. Indian officials tried to play down the crisis, promising all problems would be addressed, but Mr Clegg said : 'Time is running short. It's for athletes to decide themselves whether they want to attend or not, but I do hope we give the organisers the chance to sort themselves out so we give the games the chance to be the success they always wanted it to be.' The run up to the opening ceremony on October 3 has been plagued by construction delays, allegations of corruption, terror threats, monsoons and an outbreak of dengue fever. There was more bad news for the organisers yesterday when part of the ceiling of the weightlifting arena fell in just 24 hours after a footbridge – near the Jawaharlal Nehru complex, the centrepiece of the games – collapsed, injuring 23 people. The athletes' village has been condemned as 'unfit for human habitation', with plumb¬ing, wiring, hygiene and furnishing problems. Repairs: Workers without safety harnesses climb down the roof of the weightlifting venue for the Commonwealth Games at Jawarharlal Stadium today Keeping watch: Security guards stand guard outside the partially collapsed roof of the weightlifting area at the Jawaharlal Stadium today Repairs: The weightlifting arena is part of the main Jawaharlal Stadium Three of England's biggest athletics stars pulled out of the competition. Olympic 400m gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu, world champion triple jumper Phillips Idowu and Commonwealth 1,500m champion Lisa Dobriskey have said they will not go to Delhi. Preparations for the Games have been beset with problems, including security fears, athlete withdrawals and today stern criticism of the facilities in the athletes' village. Teams have described accommodation in the village as unfit for human habitation and Commonwealth Games England chairman Sir Andrew Foster admitted problems with the athletes' village have left the competition 'on a knife-edge' and facing 'a critical 24 to 48 hours'. Leading politicians played down the ceiling collapse, with Cabinet Secretary KM Chandreshekhar insisting it was a 'minor' issue. 'The cables which were to be set up for the data network were placed on the false ceiling and due to the weight of the cables the ceiling fell off. It's a minor thing and it will be corrected. It's not a matter to be worried about,' he said. Crisis: Indian security personnel work at the site of a collapsed pedestrian bridge outside the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi today Chaos: The 100m pedestrian bridge fell apart less than a fortnight before the Games Injuries: Five labourers were rushed to hospital with critical injuries Time is fast running out for the Delhi authorities to prevent an embarrasing shambles. Scotland, New Zealand and Canada had already voiced concerns about the standard of the accommodation and today England joined the chorus of criticism. The Scotland team today confirmed it was delaying its departure to Delhi. An England spokesman expressed 'grave concerns' over the accommodation for the total of 6,500 athletes. Some parts of the Village were described as 'unsafe and unfit for human habitation' and Games federation chief executive Mike Hooper labelled the conditions 'filthy'. It is not clear why world triple jump champion Idowu has withdrawn, but Ohuruogu and Dobriskey both have injury concerns Triple blow: Middle-distance runners Lisa Dobriskey, Chrstine Ohurugu and triple jumper Phillips Idowu have all given varying reasons for pulling out of the Delhi Games They were all due to defend their Commonwealth titles in Delhi. Australian champion discus thrower Dani Samuels, who won the gold medal in the World Championships last year, was the first athlete to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games because of her concerns over her safety and health in Delhi. Miss Samuels, 32, told Australian team officials today that she was worried about her security after an attack on two tourists - and she was also concerned about her health because of a recent outbreak of dengue fever. Meanwhile, an Australian television news crew were able to carry a case for an explosives detonation kit into the stadium without being stopped. The case could have triggered up to 200 explosions if it had been fitted with a detonator. Footage broadcast late on Monday showed reporter Mike Duffy easily walking into the cordoned off area with the oversized, wheeled suitcase when a gate was opened to allow a police convoy through. Pulled out: Australian discus world champion Dani Samuels will not compete at the Games over security fears 'Patrol cars drive in, I slip through,' he says in a voiceover. 'While they're distracted by their own cars, I breeze in with an oversized suitcase. 'There are dozens of police. But nobody asks me what it's for. And this is no ordinary piece of luggage. 'It's a portable, purpose-built casing for a remote detonation kit. The unit is capable of setting off 200 explosions.' Duffy had earlier secretly filmed the purchase of the case from the boot of a car in a restaurant car park north of New Delhi. Recovering: The labourers injured in the Jawaharlal Stadium footbridge collapse are treated for their injuries at the spartan-looking Safdarjung Hospita 'If I need to blow up this car, all I need further is a detonator and explosive,' the vendor tells Duffy. The news crew said they were easily able to obtain both items, including ammonium nitrate and explosives used for mining, within a day's drive of New Delhi. Organisers of the Games have promised the event will be safe, but Australia issued another warning about safety on Monday, saying there was a 'high risk' of an attack in New Delhi. The Commonwealth Games Federation has asked the Indian government to take urgent steps to improve conditions at the athletes' village. Concern: Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell said: 'The Commonwealth Games village is seriously compromised' Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell has admitted that the village is 'seriously compromised' and has written to the Indian Cabinet Secretary expressing his 'great concern'. He said: '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.' Commonwealth Games England released a statement earlier today which read: '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.' Clean-up time: The village is fumigated in the race to have it ready And England Commonwealth Games boss Craig Hunter said: 'There is mud everywhere, where we are there is a lot of remedial work to be done but the days of monsoon rain have delayed the work and there are new challenges that have been revealed around the village. 'There is unsafe electrical equipment in some rooms, in some areas there are plumbing issues, things like doors not fitting properly and one of the walls adjacent to our accommodation which has washing machines has not been plumbed in. On the top floor there is no secure barrier and it needs to be boxed in to become safe. '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.' Michael Cavanagh, chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, expressed his concerns, too, and told the BBC: 'Very soon, 6,500 people from 61 countries will be coming and we have real concerns about whether they can be accommodated. Bog standard: The toilet facilities in the Delhi athletes' village which was criticised by Michael Cavanagh, chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland No luxury: A bedroom in the village which will prove a far cry from the facilities enjoyed by British athletes at the Beijing Olympics 'The problem is that there are other aspects, not just the accommodation, there are parts of the Athletes' Village that aren't functioning. 'We've been told there are piles of rubble lying around the village. They have a very short space of time so we hope the Indian government will put real pressure on the organisers. 'The Delhi organising committee are running out of time and they need to do it very, very quickly.' Cavanagh said there were a series of meetings happening in Delhi today that there was a possible 'Plan B' but would not give details. Nearly there: A sound barrier goes up just outside the Commonwealth Games village - but the methods used would probably not get past UK health and safety officers New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie confirmed the facilities were below standard. He told Newstalk ZB: 'The way things are looking, it's not up to scratch. The rea lity 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 said that the high security measures at the Games mean work which ought to have been in place is taking longer to complete. He added: 'Since the nations have been arriving at the village they have 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.' Wales chef de mission Chris Jenkins said impressive progress has been made with his team's accommodation but there are still major concerns for other teams. Waiting game: A security guard at the entrance to the Commonwealth Games village Jenkins said: 'We have been working closely with the Delhi organising committee to resolve the issues we faced on first inspection of our tower and while there has been impressive progress made, we also still feel there are a number of operational issues that need to be addressed. 'We are in a good position because we came out early to set up. Therefore, we have had time to improve the standard of our building. Our major concern is for other countries yet to arrive. 'Many of these will arrive with athletes and face a village that is compromised. Wales and the other countries here call on the Delhi Organising Committee and the Indian Government to increase their efforts to rectify these problems.' Another security alarm was raised on Sunday when two Taiwanese tourists were injured in a shooting incident near the Jama Masjid mosque. The busload of Taiwanese tourists were fired at by a person riding pillion on a motorcycle.

I agree. When it comes to South Africa, Delhi, or even Rio, you monitor things closely, you are more involved etc.

CWG: As questions pile up, Kalmadi goes missing NEW DELHI: As the furore over the condition of the Commonwealth Games Village escalated, there has been a notable silence from the man associated the most with the Delhi Games 2010 — Suresh Kalmadi. So, while top bureaucrats from the central as well as Delhi government made a beeline for the Village on Tuesday, the two top officials from the organising committee (OC), Kalmadi and the CEO, Jarnail Singh, were both missing in action. Neither made an appearance in the Village through the day, said sources, though officials like the cabinet secretary, K M Chandrashekhar, principal secretary to the PM, T K A Nair, secretary sports, Sindhushree Khullar, the LG, Tejendra Khanna as well as the Delhi government chief secretary rushed to the Village, especially after the cabinet secretary received the letter from Michael Fennell, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, detailing the complaints by the visiting foreign delegates from participating nations. Said a senior official, "In fact, the meeting with the cabinet secretary started early in the morning once the letter was received, with almost every senior official being present." However, sources admitted that neither Kalmadi nor the CEO, Singh, were present at the emergency session. The otherwise media-friendly Kalmadi was conspicuous by his absence, not speaking to anyone from outside the OC as the controversy raged. Kalmadi's close aide, and spokesperson for the OC, Lalit Bhanot, took over the job to defend the OC and answer questions over the delegates scathing comments about the "filthy" conditions in the residential zone at the end of the day. The uncharacteristic silence continued on Wednesday, with the OC head still refusing to issue a statement on the Village controversy and its fallout, which saw several athletes dropping out of the CWG 2010. Kalmadi, who till date had been vocal about the Games Village being the "best ever", preferred to play it low as OC tried to play down the controversy. It was left to the cabinet secretary, Chandrashekhar, to issue a statement, saying that a number of steps had been taken to improve the condition and that authorities are "on top of the situation". Said the official, "I think they (the OC) are working in full steam and we are in constant touch with them. I think they will be on top of the situation." One of my more recent favourite posts from some SSC forumers. Apart from the post on the 2010 WC It seems the media are behind the bridge collapse and village "hygiene" issues.

A flooded Games village?

Rising Yamuna threatens to flood Games Village The swelling Yamuna river has added to the woes of the authorities who are already battling allegations of "shoddy" arrangement in the Commonwealth Games Village. The rising water of the river on Wednesday reached the doorsteps of the Games Village. At 207.05 metres, the rise in the water level has broken a 32-year-old record. While the flood situation in the city intensifies, only an embankment lies between the river and the Games Village, which is built on the river bank. The area surrounding the Games Village was inundated earlier as well. However, the authorities maintained that there was no need to panic. "The embankment along the village has kept the water out of the Village. The chances of river water entering the site are minimal," said Ish Kumar, chief engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Department. The stagnant water is likely to raise more problems for the authorities, who are also fighting an outbreak of dengue in the city. Meanwhile, hundreds of people living in the low-lying areas have been shifted to relief camps near the CWG Village and Akshardham Temple. The incessant rainfall in the city has also intensified the city's woes. The rains have left the roads near the Village waterlogged with a large number of construction workers falling victim to dengue and malaria. The weatherman has predicted a cloudy sky with rain and thundershowers for Thursday as well. Delhi has seen one of its wettest monsoons this year with the city receiving over 1,000 mm of rains.

But they have missed countless deadlines. Yet the CWG Federation kept ambling along. Each visit resulting in new deadines.

I think somebody needs to make a decision. These teams can't keep on with the "maybe we'll find a different venue" and when the Games arrive, then start moaning. Its too late for the CWG Federation, since they knew exactly what was coming its way 1 year ago already. But for the teams, now is the time.

Maybe Abuja can stage athletics and swimming. Other events to South Africa. Some more to Australia.

and I was just rambling on about testing venues in all ways, and now this roof collapses. Even Germany had issues with a roof but that was a whole 1 year before the WC and during a test event

Australia. I don't think England have the balls. South Africa and NZ will do what Australia do. Ireland will do what England do. Some African countries will follow South Africa. Canada and Australia will talk but Canada will not pull out before Australia.