Dehli Games Update.

[SURYADEV]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9018515.stm

British teams raise Delhi doubts

England and Scotland's Commonwealth Games teams are concerned the poor quality of the athletes village in Delhi may put the whole event in doubt.

Scottish officials found their original accommodation to be "unsafe and unfit for human habitation".

England are "optimistic" they will compete, but say urgent work is needed before the Games begin on 3 October.

But Welsh officials are content with their headquarters and believe that organisers "should be able to do it."

Building works have fallen well behind schedule in the build-up to the Games and Thursday's official opening of the village to 7000 athletes and officials now looms large.

Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell, who has written to the Indian government expressing his concern over progress, has warned that security around the site has delayed improvements.

"Many nations that have already sent their advanced parties to set up within the village have made it abundantly clear that, as of the afternoon of 20 September, the Commonwealth Games Village is seriously compromised," he said.

Scotland claim that the accommodation they were allocated on arrival was unfinished, but that they encountered problems even after being moved to a completed section.

Team officials, with the help of Games volunteers, cleaned the seven-storey building themselves to bring conditions up to an acceptable standard.

"We now have grave concerns as to whether the Village as a whole will meet the health and safety standards required," read a statement.

Scotland have called on the Commonwealth Games Federation "to make a realistic decision as to at what point and under what conditions...the Games will be able to go ahead should the Village issues not be resolved".

India's monsoon weather has revealed new plumbing and electrical problems ahead of the arrival of England's first athletes on Thursday.

"Commonwealth Games England remains optimistic that England participation at the Games can go ahead," read a statement.

"However there is a lot still to be done in the Village and this needs to be done with some urgency."

Wales have previously lodged a formal complaint over conditions in the village, however chef de mission Chris Jenkins is now confident his team's accommodation is on track.

"It's in a good state now: it's clean, the plumbing's working, the wiring's working, the electric is working, the air conditioning works, the medical clinic is pretty much set up." he told BBC Sport Wales.

"They should be able to do it, they have enough time but time is running out, they've got to start now on these towers."

New Zealand team manager David Currie is less optimistic.

He has found alternative rooms for his country's 300-strong contingent of athletes and officials and believes the whole event may be in danger.

"If the village is not ready and athletes can't come, obviously the implications of that are that it's not going to happen," he told New Zealand radio network newstalk ZB.

"Unless there is tremendous effort and energy and problem-solving ability to get it done, it's going to be extremely hard to get across the line."

Australia and Canada are the other two teams to have set up camp in Delhi at the earliest opportunity.

Australia's chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said his officials "didn't seem that concerned about the overall condition of the village", but claimed the organisers "have got two days to do what's probably going to take about two weeks".

Story from BBC SPORT:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/commonwealth_games/delhi_2010/9018515.stm

Published: 2010/09/21 08:50:55 GMT