The Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi: Safety concerns abound

The nineteenth Commonwealth Games, the multi-sport event for athletes from Commonwealth countries, is due to begin in Delhi in less than two weeks on October 3 2010. However, after a number of safety and security concerns, there are suggestions that the Games may not go ahead after all.

Team managers from various nations have expressed concern about the standard of the athlete's accommodation, claiming that it is not fit for habitation at the moment. Electrical outlets are apparently dangerous and the cleanliness levels are simply not up to standards. This news has come on top of another major safety issue, when a bridge at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium collapsed. 23 construction workers were injured, five of them seriously.

The Indian authorities claim that it will not affect the Games, calling it an unfortunate accident, but concern is building around the reason for the collapse in the first place. There are also security concerns after two tourists were shot and wounded near Jama Masjid, one of the biggest mosques in India. An Australia discus champion, Dani Samuel, has decided to pull out of the Games because of the shooting incident.

British triple jumper, Phillips Idowu, has also pulled out because of fears for his safety, meaning he will not be able to defend the gold medal he won in the last Commonwealth Games. On his Twitter page, he apologised for his decision: "Sorry people, but I have children to think about. My safety is more important to them than a medal."

Two other well-known athletes, Olympic 400m champion, Christina Ohuruogu and defending 1,500m champion Lisa Dobriskey have also pulled out of the Games. They have claimed their reasons are because of injury, but some sports commentators suspect that it is because of the safety and security issues.

The Indian authorities have claimed that there is no cause for concern and that they will be pulling out all the stops to ensure that the athletes' accommodation is finished in time and that security will be more than adequate. Lalit Bhanot, secretary general of the Delhi organising committee, has defended the organisation of the Games, claiming that the athletes' village is world-class. He also suggested that the dissatisfaction over the cleanliness of the village is due to cultural differences: "Everyone has different standards about cleanliness. The Westerners have different standards, we have different standards."

Despite Bhanot's comments, the team leaders from a number of countries have suggested that the Games may not happen at all. Craig Hunter, England's team leader, has asked for assurances: "It's hard to cancel an event of this magnitude but we are close to the wire, and teams may start to take things into their own hands. Athletes will start getting on planes soon and decisions will have to be made. We need new levels of reassurance." Michael Fennell, the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, has suggested that the Games are seriously compromised.

Of course, this level of anxiety happens before most international sporting events. In the run-up to the Olympic Games in Athens, there was enormous concern that buildings and arenas wouldn't be completed in time, yet the Games went ahead with relatively little trouble. Hopefully, India can do something to reassure the visiting nations. However, it needs to be done soon, before more top Commonwealth athletes pull out. by Sun Meilan