Delhi 2010

[Apple]

Hamilton would have been ready for Games, says Commonwealth bid chair

Jim Morris

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/260336--hamilton-would-have-been-ready-for-games-says-commonwealth-bid-chair

Hamilton would not be facing questions about whether venues would be ready and fears over security if the southern Ontario city had been awarded the 2010 Commonwealth Games instead of Delhi, says the chair of the failed bid committee.

"I think you can safely say the kinds of issues they are experiencing wouldn't have happened if it were here,'' Jagoda Pike said yesterday. "There is no question in my mind facilities would have been completed and tested long ago.''

Officials with Canada's Commonwealth Games team are upset the athletes village being used in Delhi is not completed. Some countries have even questioned if the Games will proceed.

Pike was head of the Hamilton committee that was beaten by Delhi in bidding for the Games. She said Canada has a history of hosting successful Games with last winter's Vancouver Olympics a prime example.

"We have had lots of experience in hosting and staging Games and we are at a different stage of our development as a country,'' she said.

From the very beginning the decision to award India the Games was shrouded in controversy.

Pike wondered if Delhi's bid received the same scrutiny as Hamilton's.

Some voters may have been swayed by the Indian delegation's assertion wealthy countries host the Games too often and developing countries deserve an equal chance.

"Certainly, when a country like India is bidding, they have a number of disadvantages, they may have less expertise in bidding,'' said Pike. "They certainly don't have the infrastructure and the advantages of a country like Canada would.

"Consequently, everybody sort of gives them a bit of a break against countries like Canada or any of the developed nations. There is a bit, I think, of a different standard applied.''

Delhi officials also made a last-minute offer of $129,000 to each Commonwealth Games association of the 72 Commonwealth members. The money was to be allocated for athlete training.

"We certainly questioned whether the money they had put on the table at the end was within the bidding rules,'' Pike said. "However the Commonwealth Games Federation at the time ruled that it was within the rules and off it went.''

Pike was head of the committee that successfully won the bid to bring the 2015 Pan American Games to Toronto

Andrew Pipe, president of Commonwealth Games Canada, said any city can experience problems organizing a major sports event.

"One would like to think that were a Canadian city hosting these Games it would be further along,'' Pipe told reporters during a telephone conference call.

"I do remember the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. We were pouring concrete and laying sod the day of the opening ceremonies. ''

John Furlong, the man who headed the organizing committee for the Vancouver Olympics, said putting on a Games for the first time is a daunting task for any country.

"When you haven't done it before, it's a real eye-opener,'' said Furlong. "You can't underestimate the speed and the magnitude of what your are up against.''

Furlong is confident Delhi officials will fix the problems so the Games can proceed.

"I suspect there is a full-court process going on to get it right,'' he said. "I hope they succeed.''

Pike said one difference with hosting an Olympics is the amount of money generated through television and sponsorship. Commonwealth and Pan Am Games often need government support to be successful.

"They are very much reliant on whether the government in question can get it's act together,'' she said. "I think that's part of what's been the trouble in Delhi is the government has had some trouble getting there.''

Pike is not gloating over Delhi's problems and refused to take a I-told-you-so attitude.

"I think if there is a disappointment or a sadness it's in that it hasn't gone as well as everybody would have liked,'' she said.

"It is in Delhi, and for the benefit of the teams and the athletes, I hope they pull it off and I wish them great luck.''

The Canadian Press

[Lachie]

While I believe this is true, Channel 7 is now just exploiting the situation for their own sensationalist gain.

Assholes.

Whilst this is true, it highlights very much how incapable Delhi is. There should not be any questioning the situation. These games need to be cancelled for the health and safety of a lot of people. Why can't the CGF accept this... it is lunacy.

Something bad, real bad is going to happen, and when it does, and it will, there are going to be a lot of people in the firing line, and not just Delhi officials...

[Go Europe]

Whilst this is true, it highlights very much how incapable Delhi is. There should not be any questioning the situation. These games need to be cancelled for the health and safety of a lot of people. Why can't the CGF accept this... it is lunacy.

Something bad, real bad is going to happen, and when it does, and it will, there are going to be a lot of people in the firing line, and not just Delhi officials...

Come on there were same speculation for Athens in 2004 and they pull it off. I think it will out.

Come on there were same speculation for Athens in 2004 and they pull it off. I think it will out.

I meant there was the same speculation..... and they will pull it off.

[cormiermax]

For gods sake, Its totally irresponsible for any delegation to still attend these games. I'm officially calling this one a disaster.

[adrianme17]

there is a lot of press sensationalism going on - but quite frankly - and quite sadly i have to say that india and delhi have blown it big time. the games will go on but how could this have happened? do the commonwealth games federation not have inspection committees? some responsiblilty must be taken by the commonwealth games federation for allowing such a debacle to unfold in the 1st place! a real shame as i am sure delhi could have staged a great and beautiful event - they may still do but these games have now been well and truely tainted.

[Rob2012]

Come on there were same speculation for Athens in 2004 and they pull it off.

Not 9 days before there wasn't.

[baron-pierreIV]

Not to mention part of a stadium in Brazil also collapsed. Am at smebody else's PC, so you;ll have to find a link for it.

[OneTimeOnly]

Swim Teams May Bypass Dehli Amid Chaos.

Leading Commonwealth nations may stage an alternative swim meet somewhere in the Middle East or Asia should the Commonwealth Games in Delhi be cancelled because of poor conditions. The Games are due to unfold October 3-14 and it is far from clear as yet whether the show will be able to go on......

Read more: http://www.swimnews.com/News/view/8083

[huaiwei]

there is a lot of press sensationalism going on - but quite frankly - and quite sadly i have to say that india and delhi have blown it big time. the games will go on but how could this have happened? do the commonwealth games federation not have inspection committees? some responsiblilty must be taken by the commonwealth games federation for allowing such a debacle to unfold in the 1st place! a real shame as i am sure delhi could have staged a great and beautiful event - they may still do but these games have now been well and truely tainted.

What riles me even more, are the callous attitudes of those in charge, and how they chose to sit on their behinds even when alarm bells have been ringing since over two years ago. Perhaps these news were not reported the world over, but I sure read about them in my local papers for a long time now. And instead of hearing more reassuring news, it is more and more bad news as the months go by.

It is a complete let down on the Indian people in particular, and not just to the rest of us outside the country. 20% of the world's population are witnesses the reputation of their country ruined by a team which will go down in the history books for all the wrong reasons. Heck, I even think the outcome could be completely different if it was a different team in charge, or if it was held in another Indian city, say, Bangalore. If the same country could build an excellent and cavernous airport terminal in Delhi in record time with not much of a problem, and they cannot build a bunch of stadiums on time, the problem clearly points to one direction only.

[Kenadian]

Yes, Athens had problems and delays, and certainly every big international Games have organizational problems, but not of this magnitude. Collapsed bridges and ceilings, serious security gaps, and a filthy athletes village just days before the Games begin? These are big BIG problems.

Even if Delhi pulls this off by the skin of its teeth, they have damaged their reputation. Forget about an Olympic bid!

[baron-pierreIV]

Is it possible that the Delhi 2010 team sent NO observer teams to ANY previous large multi-sport events like Melbourne 2006? THe Beijing Games? Or is India good only for outsourcing and not native-doing? Maybe they should've outsourced the job to....say, Pakistan?

[Rafa]

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.

[Brekkie Boy]

there is a lot of press sensationalism going on - but quite frankly - and quite sadly i have to say that india and delhi have blown it big time. the games will go on but how could this have happened? do the commonwealth games federation not have inspection committees? some responsiblilty must be taken by the commonwealth games federation for allowing such a debacle to unfold in the 1st place! a real shame as i am sure delhi could have staged a great and beautiful event - they may still do but these games have now been well and truely tainted.

I've posted exactly those sentiments in the other thread. These events aren't just highlighting the inabilities of the Delhi organisers, but of the CWG Federation as a whole.

Even if they'd had to cancel the event three months out from the games it would have been better PR than we're seeing now. The CWG Federation seem to forget their loyalty is to the games, not to Delhi.

It's not a case of will they be ready now, it's a case of they're not ready. Athletes always move into the village at least a week prior to the games, so saying it'll be ready for the opening ceremony is basically a failure.

[4seasonscentre]

"PULL OUT!"

TWSS!

[Rafa]

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.

Edited September 22, 2010 by Mo Rush

[The Tower Bridge Fox]

Nathan Robertson expects Games to run smoothly

Nathan Robertson expects Games to run smoothly

I have to say I agree

London 2012 will have to cross its fingers and hope nothing embarrasses us in the run-up to 2012 we may be ahead with the venues , but there could be plenty of as yet unforeseen problems not to mention unexploded bombs that could go off in our faces if we are complacent.

[4seasonscentre]

Great comic here that I can't post the image of

[Rafa]

A flooded Games village?

[Rob2012]

True, but London is being careful. There is literally no compariaon between our preparations and India's.

[Rafa]

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

just cant wait... all this nonsense created by Media, I really dont care......I am very confident that the games will be the best ever commonwealth games in the History.

But I will be very happy if Prime Minister's Office calls all these news channels and takes away their licenses... These channels are run by amateurs who dont really know what to speak / telecast and what not.. they just need masala news to get more TRP's... especially channels like - News24,Aaj Tak, Star News, Headlines today.... if you notice most of the reporters are in their early twenties...they dont have much experience.....and they give wrong information to Billions of Indians. Sad.. hopefully things will change.

It seems the media are behind the bridge collapse and village "hygiene" issues.

[Kenadian]

You can't compare London 2012 to Delhi 2010. There is more at stake for the Olympics. And many more prying eyes. Delhi is only becoming a world story because it is days before the Games and they are in serious jeopardy. But I'm sure that this is the first time the phrase "Commonwealth Games" was ever uttered by some people around the world. The CWGs are only relevant to a small group of countries. Do you think Melbourne or Manchester got any coverage on CNN? Nope. Nada.

[4seasonscentre]

Sometimes no news is good news!

[The Tower Bridge Fox]

You can't compare London 2012 to Delhi 2010. There is more at stake for the Olympics. And many more prying eyes. Delhi is only becoming a world story because it is days before the Games and they are in serious jeopardy. But I'm sure that this is the first time the phrase "Commonwealth Games" was ever uttered by some people around the world. The CWGs are only relevant to a small group of countries. Do you think Melbourne or Manchester got any coverage on CNN? Nope. Nada.

The USA isn’t in the commonwealth

( I don’t think Americans understand the words commonwealth)

so you wouldn’t expect an American news channel to give them much mention, BBC world I’m sure gives them ample converge around the world,

Looking at the Dile website the venues look very nice

I don’t think the queen as head of the commonwealth will be there, but I’m sure there will be members of the royal family there which will reassure the world.

[SkiFreak]

It's going to be interesting how all this unravels over the next week. It's getting coverage on all the major media outlets, even surprisingly CNN.

[Kenadian]

The USA isn’t in the commonwealth

( I don’t think Americans understand the words commonwealth)

so you wouldn’t expect an American news channel to give them much mention, BBC world I’m sure gives them ample converge around the world,

Looking at the Dile website the venues look very nice

I don’t think the queen as head of the commonwealth will be there, but I’m sure there will be members of the royal family there which will reassure the world.

But you missed the point. CNN has mentioned these Commonwealth Games BECAUSE they are in disarray. And any member of the royal family showing up doesn't reassure anything...just confirms that there is a mess.