The Commonwealth Games

by Henry Tue 21 Sep 2010, 16:07

So, Indian forummers, are criticisms of the Athletes facilities in Delhi justified, or is it just just a big western media blowup, designed to discredit India?

Other questions to be answered-

1. Will the games go ahead?
2. Does anyone care?

by Basil Tue 21 Sep 2010, 16:11

Henry wrote:So, Indian forummers, are criticisms of the Athletes facilities in Delhi justified, or is it just just a big western media blowup, designed to discredit India?

Other questions to be answered-

1. Will the games go ahead? You bet
2. Does anyone care? Not outside the Commonwealth

by furriner Tue 21 Sep 2010, 16:40

Henry wrote:So, Indian forummers, are criticisms of the Athletes facilities in Delhi justified, or is it just just a big western media blowup, designed to discredit India?

Other questions to be answered-

1. Will the games go ahead?
2. Does anyone care?

TO, SG, doremi and other forummers living in India will have the best information. Until they do, my sense from reading up on stuff, is that the whole leadup to the games was controversial and messy, including construction issues. So the criticism seems to be justified.

by The One Tue 21 Sep 2010, 17:12

the stadia seem to be of high quality

the athletes village does not seem to be fully ready. it might well be quite soon, but it isnt as of now

the lead-up and non-ability to adhere to deadlines has been atrocious, even by indian standards

there is likely to have been huge amounts siphoned off by the ones in charge. hardly a surprise

the ones responsible will probably get away. some mid-level managers will probably get fired. again, not a surprise if it happens

by beamer Tue 21 Sep 2010, 19:43

They should have had a backup host on hand (Manchester perhaps?)

It's good to give different countries a chance to host major events but can backfire on occasions. Even the so-called developed nations can mess up on occasions, though... just think if we'd got the 2006 football World Cup there would have been no Wembley and we may well have had the tournament taken away.

by Zat Tue 21 Sep 2010, 22:01

From all reports I've read from media across the globe (or at least parts that report on the CG) there are still many facilities not ready. It's only a fortnight until the games start. Of course the race card is yet to be played, but it will only be a mater of time, and people/companies/media outside India will be blamed.

Will the games go ahead? Yes. But several countries may wind up unrepresented. Or present in reduced numbers. Or sleeping under bridges because of the accommodation being crap. And unfinished.

Does anyone care? Well, Foxtel in Australia has been offering the 6 CG channels for $20. I doubt people would be willing to pay more than that. Don't know what the subscriber take-up rate has been.

by Zat Tue 21 Sep 2010, 22:25

Well, it seems that some parts of the Indian media are reporting the looming Delhi debacle in a critical manner too.

by doremi Tue 21 Sep 2010, 23:14

Meh, it'll work out. I regularly travel past the games village and that seems to be ready. My friend's a volunteer and he's been to a couple of stadiums and he says they're pretty much done. But as TO says, they've cut it too fine this time, even by Indian standards.

I'll be home, sleeping during the entire event. Just hope they finish the airport metro link in time.

by Zat Tue 21 Sep 2010, 23:28

doremi wrote:Meh, it'll work out. I regularly travel past the games village and that seems to be ready...

Now, I'll admit that Paul Kent at Sydney's Small Paper For Stupid People tends to get caught up in the odd exaggeration, but even if the stuff he says in today's missive is only half true, then it's a pretty odd definition of 'ready'.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/welcome-to-the-con-games/story-e6freyar-1225927614838

Selected quotes:
"11 days from the opening ceremony, five of the 17 arenas remain unfinished. The rest leak."

"Yesterday New Zealand arrived at the athletes village to begin preparing their stay.

The floors were covered in faeces. The Kiwis demanded new facilities and received them, which only means that some other poor saps are going to receive those rooms intended for the Kiwis."

by skully Tue 21 Sep 2010, 23:55

I see there was a footbridge collapse at the main stadium that injured a couple of dozen workers yesty. Sounds shonky.

by embee Wed 22 Sep 2010, 00:03

Dani Samuels ...Chicks World Champion at the Discus ...has pulled out of the games

by Bradman Wed 22 Sep 2010, 00:43

A couple of poms and some African runners too.

by horace Wed 22 Sep 2010, 01:08

this is not good...a pte sector Oz security agency is reported as saying there is an 80% chance of a terrorist attack during the Games

the NZedders apparently initially asked that the disgusting mess in the snoozies area be cleaned...the locals refused...

by tac Wed 22 Sep 2010, 02:07

horace wrote:this is not good...a pte sector Oz security agency is reported as saying there is an 80% chance of a terrorist attack during the Games

the NZedders apparently initially asked that the disgusting mess in the snoozies area be cleaned...the locals refused...

Turned out it was the workers dinner . . . .

by Bradman Wed 22 Sep 2010, 02:16

ABC News Radio is running a poll about taking up an offer of free travel, tickets and accomodation to the Games.

71% saying no.

by Red Wed 22 Sep 2010, 08:56

In breaking news, part of the ceiling of the wrestling/weightlifting venue has just collapsed.

by Henry Wed 22 Sep 2010, 09:01

Apparently part of the roof of the weightlifting centre has just collapsed. Can't see the games going ahead at this stage.

by skully Wed 22 Sep 2010, 09:06

Deary deary me, what a farkin schamozzle.

So athletes have a choice of having a dog sh!t on them in their sleep, have a bridge collapse under them, have a roof fall on them, or get shot or blown up by terrorists. I bet they can't wait to get there. Rolling Eyes

by Mick Sawyer Wed 22 Sep 2010, 09:15

Henry wrote:Apparently part of the roof of the weightlifting centre has just collapsed. Can't see the games going ahead at this stage.

Just as well you we're not 250 years back and building the empire was your job Trev.

by skully Wed 22 Sep 2010, 09:17

How long before Merls lurches in with some line about the Bannies not being any good at building stuff since the Empire left town? Cool

by skully Wed 22 Sep 2010, 09:27

FWIW, I hope the Bannies miraculously pull it off and put on a great show, but there must be massive doubts.

by Red Wed 22 Sep 2010, 09:29

skully wrote:Deary deary me, what a farkin schamozzle.

So athletes have a choice of having a dog sh!t on them in their sleep, have a bridge collapse under them, have a roof fall on them, or get shot or blown up by terrorists. I bet they can't wait to get there.

You forgot the health risks like Dengue fever Skully.

Why was India ever given the games?

Three top-line British athletes have also pulled themselves out of the games and there are now doubts surfacing re. the whole event going ahead with Scotland, Ireland and NZ considering not going.

by skully Wed 22 Sep 2010, 09:36

Ah yes, how remiss of me, Red. It's the quintrella of disasters.

by Henry Wed 22 Sep 2010, 09:38

red, India SHOULD have been able to host a damn good games- They are a rapidly growing economy, and emerging as a big power on the world stage, so to ask why they were given the games is a bit condescending and arrogant.

The problem has been corruption and organisation, due to appointing the wrong people for the job, rather than their being an absence of ability to put on such an event.

by The One Wed 22 Sep 2010, 09:44

dengue is not uncommon in most tropical countries, from singapore to delhi. especially in the monsoons

but the way these games have been handled has been a sham (and if you are a bit nationalistic also a shame). if the venues and the village were all ready 6 months ago, as scheduled, then the issue of a ceiling collapse (its one board of a false ceiling, not a catastrophe) or unclean toilets could have been dealt with in time. thats why people try and finish projects well in advance. so that you have enough time for testing, etc

now with things being rushed more than ever before do not be surprised if a shoddy job is done and more accidents happen. i have a feeling the games will be cancelled. it would be a better option than possibilities of accidents during the event. which is a real shame, since the venues for the events themselves are very very good and the people of delhi were ready to warmly receive many guests

in the end it might not be a bad thing. this will put more pressure than anything else on the government to make some systemic changes

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