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The lead up to any major international sporting event should be an exciting one but for India, October’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi have been undermined by allegations of bribery, corruption, bungled preparations, worker exploitation and construction chaos.
Despite government assurances the Games, dubbed the best and most environmentally friendly ever, will go ahead as planned, uncertainty over the quality of the venues, the level of security in the city and the apparent lack of phased planning and project management has cast a shadow over the event.
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Prime minister Manmohan Singh stepped in a fortnight ago (14th August) as public outrage reached new heights after a report published by the government’s anti corruption watchdog, the CVC (Central Vigilance Commission), detailed serious flaws in the contract and tendering process and a litany of shoddy workmanship and unnecessary spending. Singh appointed 10 officials to oversee the remaining weeks of preparation to ensure construction would hit its deadlines.
According to a report carried by the Japan Times from its correspondent in Chennai, India, many venues have not been finished – and safety doubts remain over those that have been inaugurated.
The paper reported that the roof of the weight-lifting stadium, part of the main venue, began leaking hours after its inauguration; the ceiling of the SP Mukherjee Swimming Complex came crashing down and a swimmer was injured; while the roof at the Yamuna Sports Complex collapsed.
Other reports claim that many of the venues still resemble construction sites, that city infrastruture projects promised for the Games have not been finished, and that constant missed deadlines have placed the Games in a precarious position.
However, Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell visited Games venues last week and claimed that while there was a lot of detail work left to be done, work was in hand.
“All competition venues are complete for all practical purposes,” Fennell said. “There is some site work, outside appearance, landscaping and cleaning to be done with great urgency but this will be completed very shortly.
“This is not strange or unique to Delhi. Once they are done and finishing touches are given, we are going to have world class venues here.”
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FEATURED COMMENT
This is an outrageous situation. Commonwealth funding plays a big part in the development of the Games in each country.