[ Security Tight for Commonwealth Games -NTDTV ]
The world is holding its breath as organisers of the XIX Commonwealth Games (CWG) maintain everything is in order. Meanwhile, qualifying athletes for the New Delhi-hosted games have pulled out from across the globe due to concerns over the stability of buildings and infrastructure, and fears of terrorism.
The concern is no longer whether the games will go ahead, but whether they will be mired by security or safety issues. Over 3,100 athletes are in Delhi awaiting their events, as they continue to arrive in their hundreds; India continues to tighten its security.
Trained langur monkeys have been deployed on picket lines to protect the athletes from wild animals. Beggars have been rounded up, and 80,000 police and 20,000 paramilitaries are protecting the venues and the immediate city.
Dirty accommodation, shoddy construction and security fears top the list of complaints from Athletes.
Meanwhile, an army of cleaners are reported to be at work in the athletes’ village that will house 6,500 athletes. The surrounding area is being sprayed to prevent dengue fever.
Construction
A bridge and buildings, constructed at an admittedly lower standard than in the western world, have collapsed in recent weeks.
Reports claim that 16 structures have yet to be retested since the Central Vigilance Commission, India’s foremost watchdog, found two months back that safety certificates were forged to cover up corner-cutting and the use of substandard materials.
The venues for squash, hockey, diving, boxing, badminton and the practice rugby stadium, as well as roads leading to the main Nehru stadium, are believed to be vulnerable, reports UK tabloid The Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, the hosts are “satisfied” with standards and safety, while the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) insists everything is in order as building and fitting out of the facilities continues–including fixing “certain problems.”
Terrorist Threat
