CWG Federation chief to arrive on Thursday, OC to face tough questions

PTI

New Delhi, 22 September 2010: The embattled organisers of the scandal-marred Commonwealth Games will have a lot of explaining to do to their international boss Michael Fennell when he arrives here on Thursday on the occasion of the opening of the Athletes’ Village.

 

Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mr. Fennell had shot off a letter to Cabinet Secretary on Monday, detailing the “unlivable” conditions at Athletes’ Village, which along with a footbridge collapse near the main Games venue on Wednesday, had triggered withdrawal of two high-profile athletes besides pull out threats from some countries.

 

Mr. Fennell, whose visit here was scheduled earlier, had given time till Thursday to the organisers to take immediate steps and sort out issues in the residential zone of the Village, which he said has “shocked” advance parties from New Zealand, Canada, Scotland and Ireland because of its unhygienic conditions.

 

There is also speculation that Mr. Fennell may meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to urge him to take urgent action to save the Games.

 

 

“The final preparations for the Games Village have been of concern to the CGF since viewing the residential zone along with a number of Commonwealth Games Associations advance parties on September 15,” Mr. Fennel had said in a strongly-worded statement.

 

“Many issues remain unresolved and I wrote to the Indian Cabinet Secretary, expressing my great concern with the preparedness of Athletes Village. The condition of residential zone has shocked majority of the CGAs that are in Delhi.

 

“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,” he said.

 

Within hours of CGF chief’s scathing attack on the organisers, world champion Australian discus thrower Dani Samuel led the pull out bandwagon citing Sunday’s gun attack on two tourists and the recent outbreak of dengue fever here.

 

Another world champion, England’s Phillips Idowu, who was to defend his 1500m gold he won in 2006 Games, followed suit, saying that his safety is more important than the medal.

 

Hours before Idowu’s pull out, compatriots — Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu and Melbourne Games 1500m gold medallist Lisa Dobriskey — also decided to skip the Games due to injuries, seriously depleting the star presence in the CWG after the withdrawal of Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Chris Hoy, David Rudish, Shelly-Ann Fraser among others.