Despite the mess, no point in postponing C'Wealth Games: Athletes

The chaos, missed deadlines and shoddy construction work may have prompted calls for a postponement of the Commonwealth Games but India's top athletes say such a move would be even more damaging for the country's prestige.

As the build-up goes from bad to worse and opinion polls show utter disillusionment about the Games among the general public, a move has been slowly gaining ground to try and postpone the Games but the organising committee (OC) and athletes are not in favour of such a drastic step.

While the OC has all along maintained that the last-minute glitches would be sorted out and promised to deliver a world-class Games, developments such as the collapse of a foot over-bridge near the main Games venue and the falling of a false ceiling at the weightlifting arena has raised fresh questions about Delhi's preparedness.

But unperturbed by the setbacks, the OC insisted that there was no question of a postponement of the mega-event which will have athletes from 71 countries in action.

"There are some works which remain to be done. We are attending to it and we are confident that it will be done. Everything will be ready before the athletes start coming in. So, there is no question of a postponement," OC director general VK Verma said.

Verma's hope is shared by current and former athletes alike who feel with national pride at stake, the Games should be held come what may.

Legendary sprinter Milkha Singh said glitches were expected in the organisation of an event of such magnitude but the organisers should have been more careful about the deadlines.

"We have to admit that we have done wrong. The facilities should have been ready a long time back. India got the bid in 2003 but it is shocking that it could not complete all the work and that has created these kind of problems but the other countries should not set a precedent by withdrawing from the Games," Milkha said.

"Some glitches or the other keep happening in such mega-events. I hope India can rectify all the problems and the Games can go on. Crores have been spent and postponing the event will tarnish the country's image and prestige," he said.

Long jumper Anju Bobby George said she can't figure out how it has come to such a crisis situation despite the hosting rights being alloted to India way back in 2003.

"I hope they can sort out the mess in the remaining few days. I don't know why it got so delayed. The Games should be held on schedule. It is a big event and if it is postponed, the country's image will take a beating," he said.

Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh said postponing the event would further damage India's image.

"I don't think the Games should be postponed. We still have about 10 days to go and come what may, the Games should be conducted because the image of the nation is at stake. I think the foreign media has gone overboard in its criticism," Vijender said.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Akhil Kumar said the nation should unite to make the troubled event a success but punish the officials responsible for the mess after the show ends on October 14.

"Postponing would mean spending more money and already a lot has been spent. I don't see a point in postponing the Games because then it would become more expensive and tarnish India's image even more," he said.

"But after the Games, the people who are responsible for this mess should be treated like traitors and punished accordingly. The country's image has taken a beating and those responsible for it have to be punished," he added.

Table tennis player Subhajit Saha remained confident that the Games would be a success despite the negativism that has marred the build-up.

"I think, the Commonwealth Games should not be postponed and it will be successful. But we are not thinking about all these things right now and concentrating on our disciplines only. We would put our best possible effort to do well in the Games," he said.

Women's national champion in the sport, Poulomi Ghatak, said she has found the facilities for table tennis to be good so far.

"Let's wait and see. The Games should take place as scheduled. As far as table tennis is concerned, the facilities are very good and the playing condition is also fine in the Yamuna Sports Complex in New Delhi.

"Our preparations are going quite well and we are hoping for good performance in front of home crowd. The experience of China tour has also helped us," she said.

Delhi won the right to host the Games at the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly held in Montego Bay, Jamaica in November 2003.

This was followed by the signing of a Host City Contract between the CGF, government of India, government of Delhi, the Indian Olympic Association and the organising committee.

According to Host City Contract, it is binding on the organisers to conduct the Games on the specified dates and in the history of the event, there has never been any postponement due to incomplete preparations.