Commonwealth Games village behind schedule

SYDNEY - Construction of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games athletes' village is almost two months behind schedule, with January 26 the latest deadline offered by under-pressure developers.

The facility was meant to be vacated by the Village Park Consortium on November 30 but delays have resulted in completion being put back to Australia Day - 48 days before the March 15 opening ceremony, the Age newspaper reported yesterday.

New Zealand athletes are scheduled to start arriving on March 7 and the New Zealand Olympic Committee have already taken the precaution of booking local motels in Parkville, the village venue.

The Australian Olympic Committee have also organised motel accommodation in the area while the English team have approached Parkville residents to rent their properties during the Games.

Games organisers have also set up an overflow village in a central Melbourne hotel.

Meanwhile, the Victorian State Government is exercising its right not to pay the final A$6 million ($6.55 million) in bank guarantees until Village Park Consortium workers have completed the job to its satisfaction.

The A$6 million is the final instalment in A$15 million worth of bank guarantees, repaid gradually to the developer as targets are met.

The village will house about 6000 athletes and officials.

- NZPA