On a day of embarrassment for Delhi and with 11 days to go for the Commonwealth Games, the incomplete and “filthy” Games Village came in for severe criticism from foreign delegates and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
Organising Committee (OC) officials and government functionaries, however, continued to make light of the problems and dismissed the issues raised as “not serious.”
At a press conference, Organising Committee Secretary-General Lalit Bhanot put up a futile defence, while rebutting the charges made by the foreign delegates. “It is a world-class Village,” he insisted, even as Scotland and New Zealand expressed concerns at cleanliness, hygiene and maintenance.
“Scotland was reallocated finished accommodation, but which still required serious cleaning and maintenance,” said the Commonwealth Games Association, Scotland, in a statement, revealing how its officials, with assistance from local volunteers, themselves scrubbed and washed the seven-storey block from top to bottom.
“It is not a matter of shame. Their standards of hygiene differ from us. Everything will be in place by September 23 when the athletes will move in,” Mr. Bhanot said. Only 30 per cent of the work remained. “In 36 hours, we will be ready.”
The activity at the Games Village was stepped up on Tuesday after CGF president Michael Fennell wanted things to be sorted out in the next 24 hours.
Mr. Fennel brought the CGF's concerns to the notice of Cabinet Secretary K. M. Chandrasekhar who, along with several other high-ranking officials, and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna visited the Games Village on Tuesday.
CGF CEO Mike Hooper, who is based in Delhi, termed the Games Village “filthy and uninhabitable.”
