Currie: Commonwealth Games could be called off

An external view is seen of part of the athletes village in Delhi which is surrounded by prison like fencing. Photo / Getty Images

Next month's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi are under serious risk of being called off says New Zealand team chef de mission Dave Currie.

The unprepared state of the athletes village has stunned delegates from several nations in the Indian capital and Currie said there was a mountain to climb to have it ready for its official opening on Friday, when the first athletes are scheduled to arrive. The first New Zealand athletes are due to check in a day later, ahead of the Games start date of October 3.

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Michael Fennell today described the' village as "seriously compromised", not long after Currie accepted an offer from the Indian Games organising committee to shift from their allocated accommodation - which he described as substandard - to an another tower in the village premises.

Currie said the prospects of the Games being cancelled were now very real.

"That's not a decision that we'll make (alone) but there are some realities. If the village is not ready and athletes can't come, obviously the implications of that are that it's not going to happen," he told NewstalkZB.

"I think they (CGF) are in severe difficulties. In the time frame that is left, unless there is tremendous effort and energy and problem-solving ability to get it done, I think it's going to be extremely hard to get across the line.

"They've got a little bit of time but it's kind of two seconds to midnight really."

Currie said the half-built nature of New Zealand's proposed accommodation was "extraordinarily disappointing" to his delegation when they arrived last week. There was still a large amount of post-construction cleanup to be completed, along with issues surrounding cleanliness, plumbing, wiring, internet and mobile phones.

"It's pretty grim really and certainly disappointing when you consider the amount of time they've had to get the village ready for athletes to arrive," he said, noting there was still remedial work to be carried out on their new area.

Leading New Zealand Olympic Committee officials were flying to India today to inspect the village while Fennell also planned to arrive soon to "assess the situation first hand and provide our member countries and territories with a frank assessment".

"Final preparations for the Commonwealth Games Village have been of concern to the CGF since viewing the residential zone along with a number of Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) advance parties on September 15th," Fennell said in a statement today.

"Many issues remain unresolved and as such last night I wrote to the Indian Cabinet Secretary, expressing my great concern with the preparedness of the athletes' village to welcome the teams of the Commonwealth for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

"The condition of the residential zone has shocked the majority of CGAs that are in Delhi and, despite their attempts to work with the organising committee in a constructive manner since arriving on September 15th, significant operational matters remain unaddressed."

Fennell said problems arose due to constant pushing out of building deadlines. Now increased security around the site, while necessary, was slowing the building process.

NZOC president Mike Stanley and secretary-general Barry Maister left for New Delhi today.

Stanley said New Zealand was working with five other nations - England, Scotland, Wales, Canada and Australia - in assessing preparations for the Games. He said the group had voiced their concerns "at the highest possible level".

"What they are frustrated by is not enough action, not enough quick action, to see that, between the time we have now and the athletes coming into the village, or even the opening of the Games, things are going to be ready," he told NZPA.

"As the clock ticks down, that becomes more critical."

Stanley did not want to speculate on how big a risk there was that the Games might not be able to proceed on time.

"There has always been a chance that something could happen to the Games," he said.

"I think most people have been focussed on security and security will continue to be an issue.

The NZOC board is due to meet on Friday to assess the preparedness of New Delhi to hold a safe and secure event.

Stanley said the meeting was "a checkpoint along the way" and "not a decision point necessarily".

The Times of India newspaper was today scathing of the state of the village, reporting that just 18 of the 34 towers were complete.

It said apartments were left unlocked during the day and were regularly accessed by labourers. It reported toilets were a "mess", while fixtures and fittings were still to be provided.

The newspaper said the area set aside to host New Zealand athletes and officials - numbering more than 300 - was the worst of any in the village.

Currie said he had barely had time to inspect other Games facilities because of the problems surrounding the village but members of the New Zealand delegation had indicated they were impressed by the venues.

"The tragedy of it all is that we've got a whole lot of athletes who have put a lot of time and effort and energy into preparing for the Games. The uncertainty for them is just awful really," he said.

"It's inexcusable from the organising committee's point of view that they put athletes through this situation."

- NZPA