Delhi Averts Mass Commonwealth Games Boycott

An Indian commuter cycles past a banner for the Commonwealth Games on September 23, 2010, in New Delhi, India. Delhi is scrambling to clean up the athletes' village following numerous complaints from officials. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

A potential mass boycott of the Commonwealth Games over the readiness of athletes’ quarters appears to have been averted, just days ahead of the opening ceremony.

Assurances from the Indian government have reassured the home nations, who have confirmed they will fly out as planned.

Crisis talks involving Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and top ministers have so far pulled the games back from the brink of disaster after reports of filthy accommodation and concerns over structural safety of venues.

“We believe that no teams will pull out of the Games,” said Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee in a statement on Thursday Sept. 23.

But still not all competitors are convinced the games are safe, with several more high profile British athletes pulling out. Four cyclists, England’s Ian Stannard and Ben Swift, Wales’s Geraint Thomas, and the Isle of Man’s Peter Kennaugh, who all ride for Team Sky, have withdrawn.

The English, Welsh, and Scottish teams all confirmed today that they will travel to Delhi as planned. England said it would be competing in every sport at the Games. Scotland’s presence in particular would be expected as they host the next Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

“Commonwealth Games England and its 17 member sports today unanimously agreed that they will go to the Delhi Games,” the national body said in a statement on Thursday, Sept. 23.

The first members of the English contingent flew out on Thursday night, with the bulk of the team due to follow on Sunday. The Welsh and Scottish teams are also travelling over the weekend. The Games are scheduled to open on Oct. 3.

For some time there have been serious concerns over Delhi’s readiness to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games. India’s preparations have been dogged by construction delays and allegations of corruption. Heavy monsoon rains and an outbreak of dengue fever compounded the problems organisers faced.

As Delhi worked to rectify the issues facing the Games the organisers finally admitted the scale of the problem. “I genuinely feel sorry for what has happened and would like to apologise not only on my behalf and on behalf of the organising committee, but for everyone connected,” A.K. Mattoo, organising committee treasurer, told India’s NDTV. “This is a collective failure.”