Kiwi Commonwealth Games athletes to delay arrival in New Delhi

AUCKLAND - New Zealand’s Commonwealth Games athletes have been advised to hold off travel to New Delhi until September 28 because the Games Village will not be ready to take them.

The final decision on New Zealand’s participation would be taken in a New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) meeting on Friday.

The first Kiwi athletes were set to start arriving this weekend with lawn bowls, hockey and badminton first in.

“It is tremendously disappointing. The long-list of outstanding issues has made it clear the village will now not be ready for New Zealand athletes to move in as planned,” Stuff.co.nz quoted Mike Stanley, NZOC President, as saying.

“We know how hard this must be for athletes and we’re continuing to push the CGF and Organising Committee for an urgent resolution. This is not a matter of comfort or luxury; it’s a matter of hygiene and safety,” he added.

New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie said that he has also advised his operations team to stay out of the village until it was habitable.

“There are still issues with plumbing, wiring and leaks and the maintenance people have no access to our tower while the security process takes place,” Currie said.

“We’re now looking to move in on the 26th and we need two days to prepare for athletes,” he added.

New Zealand was among the nations to complain about the village, and the squad has subsequently been shifted into a separate accommodation building.

Scotland and Canada have also delayed their first athlete arrivals.

Earlier, Currie had said that the ill prepared state of the athletes village had raised the prospect of cancelling the October 3-14 Games. (ANI)