CWG’s scandalous mismanagement has exposed India: Pakistani daily

ISLAMABAD - India has been “exposed by the scandalous mismanagement” in the preparations for the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games, a Pakistan daily said Sunday, adding that the country “has to emerge out of the Bollywood-style rhetoric and prove that they are what they claim to be”.

The article - “Uncommon Commonwealth ‘Games’” - in the Daily Times said that hosting an event like the CWG is “supposed to be the crowning glory for a nation confirming its ability to plan, organise and manage a mega international event proclaiming their right to be classified as countries that have joined the league of the emerged nations”.

India “has really marketed this phenomenal rise with a wonderful ‘Incredible India’ campaign to create a perception of progress and proficiency, has become a little exposed by the scandalous mismanagement of the preparation of the Games. From corruption to hygiene and safety of the facilities, the horror stories had almost made the holding of this event a dubious eventuality”, the article said.

Some 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories are participating in the mega sports event being held in Delhi.

The article said that India, which according to many analysts is challenging China to become “the emerging power”, has “to emerge out of the Bollywood-style rhetoric and prove that they are what they claim to be”.

“In many ways, the comparison between India and China is a comparison between the South Asian and South East Asian style of progress and development. Whereas South Asian countries are still suffering from a hangover of British colonialism of hierarchy and rank, China has continued in its diminutive way of building mass strength.”

The article went on to say that the Beijing Olympics were almost exemplary in their flawless execution.

“In comparison, the Delhi Commonwealth Games has become an embarrassing reminder to India that good luck and great marketing are no substitute for core professionalism and true due diligence. The ‘Incredible India’ slogan is in danger of losing its credibility to the raucous allegations of corruption and mismanagement.”

The article observed that “for a nation to become great, its ability to keep its ego small is a prerequisite for sustaining success…India’s lesson from the Commonwealth scandal should be that real power comes not from a display of pomp but an honest admission of its flaws and working on them rather than dismissing them as conspiracies by opposing forces. After all, ‘incredible’ feats are not a matter of beautiful slogans but deliverable actions”.