Commonwealth Games: Volunteers vanish and the rest are left hungry

It is the Case Of The Vanishing Volunteers.

But no need to call in Sherlock Holmes - the Delhi Commonwealth Games organising committee knows it has a problem with a volunteer 'rebellion' with the event starting early tomorrow morning (New Zealand time).

There were 22,000 volunteers recruited but up to 10,000 have failed to attend work at the village and venues so far. Many seized the opportunity to grab a few perks for their promised free labour like a 12,000 rupee ($360) package including a free tracksuit, shoes, shirts and hats - and then disappeared.

That value is understood to be inflated with items like the shoes valued at $90 but really only costing about $20. But it illustrates the fact that corruption is awash throughout the Games structure, not just that alleged to have occurred at organising committee level.

The Times of India newspaper spoke to one volunteer who admitted signing up for his free kit so he could fleece the nation's resources.

He said officials struck a deal where he could keep his original kit but was encouraged to come back to collect more of it.

They would then split the new kit with him, provided he agreed to have his details deleted from the event's database. He said he had no qualms in doing so, because the Games were "all about corruption".

Some see it as volunteers' way of exacting a type of vigilante justice on the dysfunctional organising committee. There is a feeling volunteers have been conned by a glamorous selling pitch, only to turn up to mundane assignments like helping visitors fill out forms.

The Hindu newspaper reported that volunteers and visitors have received next to no access to food in the lead-up. As of Friday, the food court was still closed at the media centre while nearly 7000 personnel - including over 4000 artistes - training for the opening ceremony at Nehru stadium, went without lunch on Tuesday. That was mainly due to security hassles getting supplies into the venue as pressure mounts to police entry to venues.

The police denied it but insiders say people were working on empty stomachs from breakfast. There have reportedly been food delivery problems at most venues on a daily basis.

Things were a little better at the Siri Fort complex - home of badminton and squash. Volunteers were served stale food.

Contributing to the attrition rate has been poor training and less top athletes to watch, after so many high profile pull-outs.

There have also been varying states of payment to 'volunteers'. Most will receive nothing but a certificate but some working at the airport are paid, creating a sense of inequity.