Could Delhi Lose the 2010 Games?
India Faces Losing the Right to Host the Commonwealth Games
Dec 5, 2008
After the recent terror attacks in Mumbai, new fears have come to the fore with regards to the 2010 Commonwealth Games being staged in Delhi.
However, it is important to remember that doubts concerning the Delhi Games are by no means a new concept.
Problems With Delhi’s Games Village
The Games village that will house approximately 8,500 athletes and officials throughout the 2010 Commonwealth Games has not been free from controversy.
Earlier this year, in February, it was stated that construction of the village would be completed by December 2009.
The controversy with regards to the village arose due to the fact that it is going to be built on the banks of the Yamuna River. The fear of the citizens nearby is that construction of the village will damage the floodplains, putting the periodical flooding of the river at risk.
In November the matter reached court threatening to bring destroy India’s hopes of hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Construction however, never actually stopped, and while the situation is not yet over it appears that the village will be completed on time.
Mumbai Terror Attacks Threaten Games
In the wake of the terror attacks on India’s financial capital, Mumbai, that killed 172 people, many people are questioning the security that surrounds the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.
Despite these concerns the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is adamant that the Games are not in jeopardy. The IOA’s General Secretary, Randhir Singh, said, “The Mumbai attacks are tragic, but high-level security has already been planned for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.”
However, the Commonwealth Games Federation states that it is keeping a close eye on security in India, just in case the Games need to be staged elsewhere.
The “New” India
The risk of India losing the right to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games is minimal, nonetheless with all that has happened the risk remains.
The 2010 Commonwealth games were slated as being the event that would showcase the “new” India to world. Indian authorities had hoped that the Games would demonstrate India as a multi-cultural land that is fast becoming one of the world’s economic leaders.
The “new” India that the authorities wanted to show off may well be completely different to the India that will be displayed in just under two years time.
By the time October 2010 rolls around it is likely that the world will have only one word to describe the “new” India. Resilient.
References:
Careless Delhi Could Lose Commonwealth Games
India: No Threat to Commonwealth Games
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