Much has been written and said about the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in India.
In hindsight, the Commonwealth Games committee made an error awarding India the 2010 Games.
With only days to go before the opening ceremony, the Indians are still working round the clock putting the finishing touches to Games’ facilities.
However, a number of other much larger issues are looming to possibly make these the ‘Games of regret’!
The host nation had the responsibility to ensure more diligence and care was taken to finish the facilities before time.
This did not happen and to top it all off, there is now the real threat of internal terrorism and the possibility of a Dengue fever outbreak.
This is very much typical of a third world country riddled by corruption trying to run a first class event.
Just recently a newly constructed pedestrian bridge linking the athletes village with the main stadium collapsed.
To add insult to injury a sizable chunk of the roof in the new weightlifting auditorium also came down.
Last week a bus was hijacked in broad daylight by terrorists.
The list goes on: from the village accommodation being substandard, unsanitary and not fit for habitation, to calamity and disease.
Do competitors, tourists and spectators alike take the chance that the so far untried main stadium will not buckle to the weight of spectators?
In hindsight, the Commonwealth Games committee made an error awarding India the 2010 Games.
There was an opportunity a few months ago for the officials to overturn their decision and relocate the current games to a more ready, safe and secure location, however it was deemed politically inappropriate -Now there are consequences!
The world body has given the Indian organizing committee just 48 hours to gather their fertilizer together and rectify construction and living condition problems or risk having the Games cancelled.
Although Indian authorities have a massive presence of police and military on the ground securing the games sites, it still leaves competitors with that uneasy feeling they may become hostage targets or suffer life threatening diseases.
Any team or athlete who declines to compete in India must be fully supported for their decision.
Laying your life on the line for a medal and national glory is just not worth it!
