91Èȱ¬

I did once hear a notion that Australia would split up into its component states to compete in the Commonwealth Games to inject a bit of competition into the usually-processional medal table. Obviously it's not happening this time but I wonder what people think of that idea?

Delhi has suffered a load of negative press but any sport event has its problems... look at the Ryder Cup, the torrential downpour has made it look a complete farce today.

I was a volunteer at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and recall it fondly. There was a mixture of well known sports personalities for whom it was a warm up for the Olympics, and competitors from smaller countries/sports for whom this was the pinnacle of their sport. Most of all, though, it gave a city who (in hindsight) is never going to host the Olympics a great sporting event, but was of the perfect scale and size to host and produce a strong sporting legacy (e.g. City of Manchester Stadium). The whole of the North West seemed to come together - I remember neighbours who I had lived next to for years, talking to me for the first time, thanks to the ridiculous uniform. I’m sure it didn’t hurt the London Olympics bid either.

In short, it didn't matter too much than much of the world wasn't watching (or even Londoners), it really brought together people in Manchester and the athletes and IMHO was money well spent. Best of luck to Dehli, there is a still a chance that it can do the same there, but I’ll definitely be watching.

Its just such a strange notion to have a games purely for a collection of former empire countries and the games have been completely devalued with top athletes pulling out. When so much goes into putting on such a tournament the whole world may aswell be invited. In response to comment 1 why not the Uk's been split up into about 7 or 8 elements with the separate home nations, channel isles, isle of man etc. Mind you Australia's sporting dominance has been on the wain of late hence Team GB doing better in the medals table at the last olympics as the relative investment has gone out of Australian sports since Sydney 2000 and the investment gone into UK sport ahead of 2012.

I am from Delhi and the general mood here is that we will settle all corruption problems after the games. It is a huge event and without the games I would never have been able to see New Zealand vs Australia Rugby,
i have got my ticket and im going. Plus all the stadiums are here to stay so this can only be good for athletes in India.

At 3:02pm on 01 Oct 2010, Godiva wrote:

"Delhi has suffered a load of negative press but any sport event has its problems... look at the Ryder Cup, the torrential downpour has made it look a complete farce today."

Golf is an outdoor sport that has to deal with adverse weather conditions from time to time. Moreover, unlike the problems that have blighted the Commonwealth Games the "torrential downpour" is not man-made. The Delhi organisers have really botched this up.

I like the Commonwealth Games. It reminds me of when sport was about the playing and not about the earning.

I think the stress needs putting on both words ’Commonwealth’ and ‘Games’.
This event is all about the collection of nations that want to be part of the Commonwealth. It gives a chance for smaller states or dependencies to represent their kingdom or island.
Some sports will lack world champions, others such as rugby sevens will have the very best on display.
Does it matter – well ask Mark Cavendish (Isle of Man) or Nicole Cooke (Wales).
Is it quirky – well so is an American Ryder Cup team having to change their waterproofs because they weren’t waterproof.
Should it be more quirky - well how about the host nation being able to include a sport (just for that games) that would otherwise not be included. Suggest Glasgow pick fell running for 2014.

As a Scottish tax payer, i am happy to pay for 2014 but what i am not happy with has been the apparent lack of support or finance when you compare it to London 2012 whereby even though it is supposed to be for London only and while i agree having the olympics is good for the country as a whole but the disproportionate stance is tantamount to theft of taxes as well as local lottery funding

'Golf is an outdoor sport that has to deal with adverse weather conditions from time to time. Moreover, unlike the problems that have blighted the Commonwealth Games the "torrential downpour" is not man-made. The Delhi organisers have really botched this up.'

With respect, it does not matter to the press whether a problem is mad made or not. In terms of public relations, the torrential downpour (not helped by hosting the event in Autumn) has made the event look like a farce in the eyes of the millions who watch across the globe.

No point. The colonial time is far overdue.
There is no international interest to watch these games.

Maybe, it would make more sense to have an European games, just like the Pan American games? Isn't that what already happens in soccer, and seems to work well? I live in Canada, a Commonwealth country, and I don't get the impression other Canadians even know what the Commonwealth is.

This comment has been referred for further consideration. Explain.

The main problem is that these games only matter to countries actually competing in the same way many people will never have heard of the mediterenean games, asian games, francophonie games, panam games... even the microstate games. but they are however extremely important since they give a slight attention to the so called "minority sports" and as the article says allows fo the athletes competing in these sports to have a little space on the media which is always welcome.
I would also want to wish that the games are a success for delhi and maybe can be used as a foundations for a future olympic bid.

Some people are only ever happy when they have something to moan about and some people are just stupid bigots, others welcome the chance for an international event like this, one that brings together many nations that would otherwise be overlooked on the world stage.

Sadly though these games show just how far India is from the top table of economic powers, with blatant corruption, downright shoddy planning and organisation, this will set back how others view India by at least a couple of decades.

I only hope that when the games finally get underway, the events themselves offer a great spectacle to the hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide and that the competitors gain not just experience of a BIG event, but get to see what India has to offer, after all this is a country like no other in terms of wealth gap and diversity, a country that sportspeople are unlikely to see the likes of ever again.

I seem to remember Olympic Games in the past for which the main stadium was not completed in time, and in fact was still not complete a year later when I visited it on holidays. (Montreal, 1976), so failure to have things ready in time is not a new phenomenon.

In response to LBean88, the Commonwealth is no longer a 'colonial' enterprise, and hasn't been for decades, so your comment is irrelevant. The Commonwealth games probably involves the second largest collection of sportsmen from around the globe, after the Olympics; and does have major international interest. I would not expect people from outside the Commonwealth to be interested, any more than people from outside the Americas are interested in the Pan-American Games, but that does not mean that they are a waste of time.

:stares the monitor with facepalm:

8. At 3:49pm on 01 Oct 2010, LahdarBheinn wrote:
Should it be more quirky - well how about the host nation being able to include a sport (just for that games) that would otherwise not be included. Suggest Glasgow pick fell running for 2014.
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Well, Kabaddi is a Demonstration sport in Delhi! I vote for Caber Toss for Glasgow 2014!

"With respect, it does not matter to the press whether a problem is mad made or not. In terms of public relations, the torrential downpour (not helped by hosting the event in Autumn) has made the event look like a farce in the eyes of the millions who watch across the globe."

The Ryder Cup is traditionally hosted in September, although I take your point. Going back to the Delhi Games, I'm afraid I have to disagree. I think it does matter to public relations if problems are man-made. If the only problem was the outbreak of dengue fever the press would have been far more sympathetic. The reason most people consider the organisation of the Delhi Games to be a farce is because of corruption, bureaucratic incompetence, and the organiser's refusal to admit that they are in the wrong. It should be noted that all these points would have been happily ignored if there were no fears about the Games being ready in time. Of course the way the news is portrayed in the media does not help i.e. pictures of filthy mattresses and stories of cobras in bedrooms.

Michael (12), Just to let you know there is an European Championship already, althought athletics and aquatics are held seperately.

There is often lots of negative press and comments prior to any sporting event. The success, or failure, of these games will not be apparent until they are over. If successful, the pre-event problems will be mostly forgotton.

The messages I'm hearing from people who are actually in India is that conditions are improving althought, sadly, this is too late for those who have withdrawn for reasons other than injury. (Incidently, all the big names have not withdrawn as stated in the article).

Many athletes are talking positively about the games and are looking forward to their only opportunity to represent their country at a major event(eg. England, Scotland, Wales)

I look forward to the games, particularly the diving, and hope they are successful.

If ever two or more people get together to enjoy a fair athletic competition rather than fight each other, it is a good thing.

Only a journalist looking for a negative angle to a story would think otherwise.

'The reason most people consider the organisation of the Delhi Games to be a farce is because of corruption, bureaucratic incompetence, and the organiser's refusal to admit that they are in the wrong. It should be noted that all these points would have been happily ignored if there were no fears about the Games being ready in time.'

No those points would not have been happily ignored! At every major sporting contest, the worlds media will look to poke holes. If the games had been ready 2 months ago there would be other negative stories.

I have confidence London 2012 will be ready on time BUT this will not stop stories in the build up to the game about why London should be hosting the games in an economic downturn, the huge terrorist threats that will exist, the public transport not being up to scratch (anyone who has been on tube will understand this point) and so and so forth.

Vancouver was full of negative stories prior to the games. A mild winter meant the venues close to the city that held outdoor events had to have snow brought in from a higher altitude, the Canadians were accused of not letting athletes from other countries have as much time on the bobsleigh track... a track which also saw a competitor die... despite all this it was a huge success.

So Abhey (5), you're basically admitting what many have believed for some time, that corruption around the Games is alive and well. What's the point of cleaning it up after the fact - shouldn't the clean up have happened sooner? Considering that the Games were awarded to India in 2003, it's a very poor statement of India's ability to meet deadlines. Corruption, poor building standards, poor ticket sales, lack of top class athletes (and there many in the "Commonwealth"), etc, have conspired to ensure that these games will be in jeopardy.

jazzyfar wrote:
"Golf is an outdoor sport that has to deal with adverse weather conditions from time to time. Moreover, unlike the problems that have blighted the Commonwealth Games the "torrential downpour" is not man-made. The Delhi organisers have really botched this up."

I was told that play could have carried on but the drainage system could not cope also waterproofs of the American players which, the US PGA confirmed, "could not cope with the rain" .

In response to JonasN, I get the impression you are comparing "apples with oranges". The Pan American Games incorporates 45 different sports whereas the European Championships you refer to seem to be highlighting individual sports.

Personally, despite being a sports fan and hailing from a Commonwealth country, I'm not quite excited by these games, main reason being the inability to attract top stars for one reason or another. There is just too much sport nowadays and with all the money involved and the sponsors and the stars, these games might be one of those channels you just check briefly during half time of a premier league match or an injury timeout.

However, I don't want them to go. They are a tune-up for the Olympics, the athletes get a feel of competing and interacting with athletes from different corners of the globe. We need more gatherings like these instead of wars. It's also a chance for the little nations to get a little publicity. Hell, my country Tanzania won a gold medal at the 2002 Games men's marathon! Don't think we'll ever see that again, given all the Kenyans around. Such shocks put your country on the map, and that is why the Games are here to stay.

"No those points would not have been happily ignored! At every major sporting contest, the worlds media will look to poke holes. If the games had been ready 2 months ago there would be other negative stories."

The media does point out negatives at every large sporting event. Typically these are about transport and security, eg in South Africa 2010 there were fears that transport infratructure was not good enough and the threat of white-black violence. The point is that unlike Delhi, at all these events the negatives that the media found did not overshadow the games or dissuade fans and athletes from participating. Athletes should not be feigning injury becasue they do not have confidence in the construction and organisation of the Games. Nor should collapsing bridges and ceilings make it so easy for the media to "poke holes".

Stop procastination....! The Game will be succefully completed. Any athlete is not part of this, lost the opportunity to be part of great celebration, you missed it.
This will be remembered as CELEBRATION.....! Not games.

'The point is that unlike Delhi, at all these events the negatives that the media found did not overshadow the games or dissuade fans and athletes from participating.'

Excuse me but an athlete died in Vancouver, a lot of athletes got scared. The bobsleigh track was designed wrongly and it cost someone their life.

I think the cricket schedule for India-Aus was planned long in advance. Perhaps the CW committee did not even discuss with the Indian cricket board about this issue.

I think having 20-20 cricket in the CWG would be a good idea. The cricket in the Malaysian CWG was a big success and that was 50 overs a side. Having cricket in the Delhi games would have raised the profile for the whole event because of the greater feel-good factor that would naturally exist having the most high profile sport in India in the event.

But it would have been an overkill of international 20-20 given we had world 20-20 a few months ago and a semi-international tournament in the form of the champions league last month in South Africa.

"Excuse me but an athlete died in Vancouver, a lot of athletes got scared. The bobsleigh track was designed wrongly and it cost someone their life."

Actually, I seem to remember that independent investigations judged that the track was not deficient and that it was the athlete's mistake. This may seem like a cruel thing to say but by it's nature the luge is a very dangerous sport. Anyway, we're going off topic again. I'm sorry but I simply don't understand how you take the view, if I've understood you correctly, that the media are deliberately nitpicking. The media may look for criticisms at all sporting events but they should not be able to find issues as readily and to the extent they have done with Delhi.

One great thing about the Commonwealth Games is that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compete separately. While I am proud to be British there is something extra special about cheering on a Scottish competitor and I am sure this applies to Welsh and Northern Irish people cheering on their own countries.

I wonder what is common between North Korean State TV and 91Èȱ¬? Both shows a distorted picture of the other world! 91Èȱ¬ all the time shows Delhi as a filthy CITY- showing negative footages of the OLD DELHI - chaotic lanes and slums, thanks they are not showing horses or elephants! Isn’t it same if North Korean TV or Iranian TV shows footages of homeless people, Eastham, Row-houses, working class people as London on their TV? There are slums and dirt but is not it true that 80% of New Delhi (size of London or bigger) has modern infrastructure-shining roads, shopping malls or metro? Why do not you show a balanced true picture? You actually cause more harm to Britain as ignorance and false pride is causing this country to loose competition in the global market. Ignorance about the amount/ speed of progresses made in the OTHER parts of the world, give people false arrogance - they think they can survive with yesterdays skills in tomorrows world, and all these 9% GDP growth (India ) year after year (even during recessions) is only coming from cheap call centre labourers! Did you find anything positive about the CWG – some athletes are saying many facilities are simply fantastic! as a TV Licence payer can I expect a true balanced reporting?

I think the real problem is that many of the sports represented in the Commonwealth and Olympic games have simply not kept up with the changing economics and tastes of a changing world. They have been kept on life-support for many years by the largesse of government sanctioned and supported handouts, which are certainly not given because of a love of the sport.

The prospect of watching somebody throwing a spear, or watching about ten humans run a hundred metres in about ten seconds, holds little attraction for many people, and I think this applies to most of the other events.
The ancient Greeks were not able to go Skiing, or watch it on TV. Nor could they go to a multiplex-cinema to watch Terminator-5, or whatever. And their internet-connections were notoriously slow.

Football in the UK was confronted with some of these harsh realities some years ago (as well as it's own peculiar problems), and has managed to survive and adapt reasonably well.
Cricket is trying to do the same, and making a reasonably good fist of it in India. So why on earth should anyone expect them to stop playing in deference to a dying competitor? For me, the more interesting fact is that currently there isn't any Cricket in the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. But I'm confident we can expect to see it back on the agenda if it looks like it will turn-a-profit for these "non-profit" organizations (or for the people running them).

Supporters of Football, Cricket, and many other sports, past-times, and entertainments (for that is what they are, let's not deceive ourselves), at least have the choice of not paying for those they don't much like.

#30 I think the cricket schedule for India-Aus was planned long in advance.

Really, do you "think" or is this a fact?

#34 (thefrogstar)

Personally, I don't know what you're talking about. Track and field continues to be a solidly popular sport that occasionally produces world superstars. The fact that the Commonwealth Games isn't an over-commercialised leviathan like the Premiership is a good thing. OK, the competition will lack big names on this occasion, but will make up for that in terms of colour, diversity and pride. I look forward to seeing some of Britain's finest athletes competing for Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland in what is their only chance to do so. To lose the Games would be a great shame.

Well said donottelllies! if there was an apportunity to meet i would have given u a warm hug lol, very true what u mentioned, iam in the UK and i can sense how the sytem works .. i do like the people and the country also and respect them, but what they show specially about 20% they highlight in BIG and try to spoil the whole image , 80% of the delhi is way better some place is even better tha london, say for instance Delhi metro is one of the best in the world ..even the mayor from UK wanted the same style, services and the look of Delhi metro to London ... when he visited in New Delhi and he was very very impressed .. u see the new bus metro system is one of the biggest in the world.. , there are do many beautiful places in NewDelhi and not only that many places in India are beautiful and well maintained , some places are Naturally nature gifted and some well planned ... In India from east to west north to south every Indian state has its own uniqueness and are different from state to state , region to region .. if u go to Indian places such as OOTY, Dargeeling, Simla very beautiful scenic natural beauty of the region .. very similar to Scotland and NorthernIreland which is in the uk or even better than that an many are upcoming cities and some are already on the top of the chart , just a month back .. , 3 state of India was rated in the top ten favourite destination in Asia as Kerala state which is in the south of India awarded as no 1 favourite destination in Asia where as Goa state in the 8th position and i don't remember the other state which has come in the 10 position... There are many many thing to share here but due time restriant iam not able to do so ... hope the people should realise this and not be so ignorant ...India is a powerful emerging country and will definately see in the long run .. i agree there are some corrupted people in the government which is a sad part ... as no country is perfect in this world , but we have to make it perfect...

David, did you answer the question which entitles the blog? Is your opinion that the point is to regenerate cities? Seems like a bit of a circus if that is the only purpose it serves... Other major athletic compititions are based on athletics of the highest standard, the other benefits to the hosting cities and nations are secondary. As such, I don't see the point of the commonwealth games and lets face it, its days must be numbered, the shocking build up to these games hasn't helped.

No. 2, 10, 22, 29, your comments are complete nonsense. There is no way that the 'farce' which has been the build up to the commonwealth games can be compared to any of your examples (largely weather related issues). I mean, a bridge falling down could have been catastrophic if it had happened on the opening night. Weather delays hit golf tournaments all the time.

No. 5, I can't accept that your opinion is shared by the majority of Dehli.

No. 7, the only difference is that back when sportmen/women were competing and not earning, they were still the best in the business.

No. 14, I'm afraid that 'future' would be the operative word - after the issues that delhi has had, surely they won't be front runners for the olypics for a while to come... all this said before the games have started.

No. 15, When you mentioned diversity and wealth gap I couldn't help think of China - did they not hold a major athletics event recently?

No. 18, kabbadi is awesome - however, I'm with No. 8, Ben Lomond fell run...

No. 21, it's not a good thing if it's unsafe for the athletes or the spectators.

No. 23, agreed, 100%

No. 28, fair play - I hope you're right!

No. 32, I'm also scottish, I see your point, however it would be better if our athletes were competing against and beating the best. Most the event winners here will be the best of the worst.

No. 33, are you saying that the games build up has gone as you would have wanted? Has the reporting of the issues, in your opinion, been in-accurate? I think that the majority of the people in the UK recognise that the main cities in India are highly developed, however you can't ignore the safety concerns. You also can't ignore that there is extreme poverty in India and that there is a massive gap between rich and poor.

No. 34, the issue isn't the sport, it's the quality of the competitors. You don't get huge crowds showing up for dagenham v leyton orient. Major athletics events still have world appeal i.e the olmypics where millions of people watch "somebody throwing a spear"....

Some say that the Commonwealth games are to celebrate British imperialism. Once upon a time the British had already looted great Indian wealth but surely a few if not most British are still infested with a cheap British imperialistic mentality, otherwise they wouldn't loot the respect that the Indians deserve for all their hard work.

Mr. Bond's doubt on staging the CWG games is unfounded. The CWG games are important to a group of sovereign countries bound by a common heritage.
As far as the current game is concerned the bottom line is the Indian organizing committee was unable to provide with full games village accommodation 10 days ahead of the start. However hotel accommodations were available for the first few days. After all the Indian committee did not offer the unfinished rooms for occupation and delayed the delivery till wednesday. As such it is very unfair to term them 'unfair for human habitation'. when they were not made available in the first palce. The 91Èȱ¬ brand of journalism has thus proved to be unfair, petty and unreasonable.
The finished village and the sports facilities will prove to be world class and the games will go on. Those who did not come lack the spirit of sportmanship and the CWG org should take notice of that.
Having said that , there is no excuse for the Indian CWG org for not delivering facilities as promised. The Indian org chief should be fired
at the very first opportunity and other top officials asked to resign.

No point but to prove that you can do it. Which is itself unnecessary. Why do you need to prove to others that you can do it? You do it when its viable for your people, not otherwise.

But once it has been decided that Delhi is hosting it, it should be arranged & executed nicely. Take whatever positive things that come out of it.

You are clearly biased. All that sells is the negative propagnada, You become quiet about all the positive aspects which your eye is blind to

Overall your report is negative similar to the one given to the 10 o'clock news last night. No doubt it's hot and conditions aren't what you get in London. It's unfortunate that the Games can't be taken for what they are; a sporting event for a very diverse group of countries. Rather than making allusions to them being an 'anachronism' which is surely based on an anachronistic view of the Commonwealth and an attempted denial of history. Today India is moving to becoming the major country in the Commonwealth and those countries who are too small or too poor to have any serious place in Olympic sports or other diverse international games no doubt appreciate the links and involvement. It's time to put on the sporting glasses and forget the political ones, it's sport you're paid for.

What I do not understand is how 91Èȱ¬ was quick to publish pictures of the games village showing the worst side of the games but no one has even shown pictures of the rooms of the athletes - which according to the facebook pictures of the Canadian team look really nice.

I believe that the whole commonwealth Games and indeed the Olympic games are waste of time. During the Delhi games, about 4200000 children will die of starvation and other preventable diseases. Many of these children will come from the India and indeed Delhi, coupled with the fact that the games is only an opportunity for Rich countries to show their importance to the World, I really cannot see the wisdom of such waste of funds and resources.

Building on post 46 I'd vote to name golf and tennis as the biggest wastes of time and money. So could the blog be expanded to ask what is the point of sport?