Canada, other 70 nations don’t plan to skip Delhi CWG just yet

TORONTO - Canada and the other 70 nations who are members of the Commonwealth have said that their sport federations have no plans just yet to skip the XIXth Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi from October 3 to 14.

Though there are concerns about security, hygiene and Games’ facilities, Canadian Commonwealth Games officials said there is no plan yet for Canada or any of the 70-plus Commonwealth teams to skip the Games, or to move them to another place.
“We are monitoring hour-by-hour the progress and safety of the buildings where athletes are to be housed in New Delhi when they start to arrive Sept. 24,” the Globe and Mail quoted Andrew Pipe, president of Canada’s Commonwealth Games Committee, as saying.

Canada plans to send 255 athletes, 51 coaches and 52 staffers for the Oct. 3-14 event.anadian Commonwealth sport director Scott Stevenson, said “Completion of the village has left something to be desired, but everything on the international side of the fence and training venues on the grounds have been absolutely spectacular.”

For three years, local newspapers have warned that the Commonwealth Games were in trouble. Speaking at a news conference in Delhi, Lalit Bhanot, secretary-general of the Delhi CWG organizing committee, said the authorities understood the concerns shown by some member countries and the Commonwealth Games Federation.

He, however, suggested that the complaints could be due to “cultural differences.”

“Everyone has different standards about cleanliness. The Westerners have different standards, we have different standards,” he added.

Bhanot said the situation was “under control” and that he was “sure and confident” that cleaning in the residential areas would be complete by the time teams start arriving Thursday. (ANI)