Section of ceiling collapses at Delhi Games venue

Gulf News

New Delhi, 22 September 2010: A section of the false ceiling at the weightlifting venue for October’s Delhi Commonwealth Games collapsed on Wednesday, the CNN-IBN television channel reported, even as Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell was preparing to rush to New Delhi on an emergency visit amid widespread anger over India’s frenzied last-minute preparations for the event, which is due to open a week from Sunday.

 

The section of the false ceiling collapsed near the weightlifting stage at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main venue for the October 3-14 Games. However, no one was injured, the TV channel reported. The incident came a day after an under-construction pedestrian footbridge collapsed injuring 27 people outside the same stadium. Four people out of the 27 injured are said to be in critical condition.

 

Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Fennell would arrive on Thursday and had requested a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Fennell’s arrival comes as organizers struggle to cope with unfinished buildings, a filthy athletes’ village, a bridge collapse near the main stadium and numerous other problems.

 

But even as star athletes withdrew and doubts over the staging of the Commonwealth Games gathered momentum, Indian officials were attempting to play down concerns as an international overreaction. "Athletes and guests should not bother about such small matters," Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy told CNN-IBN television about the unclean accommodations, insisting that the Commonwealth Games village would be immaculate by the time events begin October 3.

 

 

Officials from some delegations have already moved into the village, which is due to open to athletes from 71 countries by Friday. As to the collapse of the 90-meter pedestrian bridge, New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit told reporters: "The accident is not as big as being made out to be. We are giving adequate compensation to those injured."

 

More athletes to skip Games

 

Australia, meanwhile, warned more athletes were likely to skip the Games over safety fears. Sports Minister Mark Arbib said Games officials expected more competitors to follow women’s world discus champion Dani Samuels, who withdrew late Tuesday over health and security worries after a tourist shooting three days earlier.

 

The tearful Samuels, calling it the "hardest decision of my life", was swiftly followed by England’s world triple jump champion Phillips Idowu, who said his safety was more important than a medal. English Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu and 1500m runner Lisa Dobriskey withdrew citing injuries, joining Jamaican superstars Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell on the sidelines of the October 3-14 tournament.

 

Arbib said Australia’s Games chief Perry Crosswhite was expecting further pull-outs, in a blow to organisers’ hopes that athletic prowess could overcome controversies including corruption and a "filthy" athletes village. On Tuesday, the Commonwealth Games Federation blasted the official athletes’ accommodation as "uninhabitable" with rubble in doorways and malfunctioning toilets, along with urgent electrical problems.

 

"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," New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie warned. Thousands of workers have been labouring around the clock to finish sports facilities and the athletes’ village, as well as to clear up piles of building rubble that still litter large parts of the capital.

 

India’s chief anti-corruption body found a host of problems with construction work in a July investigation, including dubious contracts and the use of poor quality materials. Building delays have also allowed pools of rainwater to form at Games sites, causing an outbreak of the mosquito-born dengue fever which has killed four people in Delhi this year and stoked worry among athletes, including Samuels.

 

"I’m sure that there wouldn’t be a parent of an athlete in Australia that’s not concerned about their son or daughter going to the Games," said her coach Denis Knowles, according to Australian public broadcaster ABC.

 

Jim Wilson, a correspondent for Australia’s Sky News, announced that he had also scrapped his trip to the Games over safety fears, while England’s Idowu, 31, said he could not risk competing because he has two young children. "Sorry people, but I have children to think about," Idowu tweeted. "My safety is more important to them than a medal."

 

New Zealand’s team will decide later this week whether to pull out en masse, as officials assess security following Sunday’s shooting at a famous mosque.

 

Official spokesman Lalit Bhanot insisted the athletes village was "probably one of the best ever", despite the strong criticism by the governing body. "Everyone has different standards about cleanliness," he said. "The Westerners have different standards, we have different standards."