NEW DELHI – An urgent enquiry was ordered on Thursday into whether the Commonwealth Games swimming pool was responsible for a rash of "Delhi Belly" stomach complaints among swimmers at the troubled event.
Reports in the British media said dozens of swimmers had been laid low by diarrhea, another potential embarrassment to local organizers struggling to turn around the 12-day multi-sport event after a chaotic run-up.
Health and security concerns caused several athletes to pull out of the Games.
"We must handle this immediately," Games Federation chief Mike Fennell told a news conference. "If there is something that is unsafe, you can’t swim in that water. We have to deal with it. It’s a matter we have to deal with the greatest of urgency."
Crowds were again sparse at most of the venues but local chief organizer Suresh Kalmadi said 125,000 tickets had been sold on Wednesday and was confident that empty stands would soon be a thing of the past at the Games, which close on Oct. 14.
Allegations of corruption, shoddy construction, a filthy athletes’ village, security and health concerns blighted the preparations. Transport issues, technical malfunctions and problems with food have continued the trend into the Games.
Kalmadi has taken most of the blame for the chaos and was booed at the opening ceremony while the city’s chief minister Sheila Dikshit has received a boost in popularity after stepping in to clean up the village.
Dikshit was at the centre of a diplomatic row on Thursday when India summoned New Zealand’s high commissioner to protest against what it said were "racial remarks" made about her in a television show.
India says a popular TV host deliberately mispronounced and ridiculed Dikshit’s name, despite being told by the lead anchor that it was pronounced "Dixit."
New Zealand High Commissioner Rupert Holborow said in a statement the comments were "culturally insensitive, inappropriate and vulgar."
Back in the village, thousands of flushed condoms threaten to choke the drainage system, according to local media reports.
Distributing thousands of free condoms to athletes has been a tradition at multi-sports Games since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
"If that is happening, it shows that there is use of condoms and I think that is a very positive story. Athletes are being responsible," Fennell said. "We all know that encouraging safe sex is a very important thing to do."
The Ugandan chef de mission confirmed he and two of his colleagues had been injured when their car ran into security barrier, a reminder of the massive police and military operation protecting the Games.
A 100,000-strong security force has been deployed to avoid a repeat of the attack by militants that claimed more than 160 lives in Mumbai in 2008 complicated logistics.
India snared an early gold medal on the fourth day of competition as they continue their quest to finish second in the medal table with the shooting range continuing to be fruitful for the host nation.
Australia’s remorseless acquisition of titles on the cycling track also continued with Megan Dunn, who won gold for the second successive day, giving an insight into the good spirit and fierce focus that exists inside the team.
"Australia has had a dream run, everyone’s in high spirits. We’re like a big family and everyone’s bouncing off each other," she said after winning the 10km scratch race.
"After winning gold in the point’s race, I got a pat on the back but they pushed me to do it again today."
The ‘friendly games’ is not just about the medalists, however, and local synchronized swimmer Avanti Dave received warm applause at the pool despite finishing last by some distance.
The 19-year-old marched confidently on to the platform before performing her routine to a tune from popular Bollywood movie Bhool Bhulaiyaa, sometimes struggling to get her legs clear of the water but never losing her rictus grin.
Her poor showing was not too much of a surprise as she has no proper coaching.
"I am always watching others on YouTube and learning from them," she told the Times of India. "I can’t believe I’m sharing the same stage with them. I want to spread the sport to as many people as possible."
Both men’s and women’s 100 metres will be decided in the athletics on Thursday evening, but the absence of the top Jamaicans, including Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, has seriously weakened the fields.
Comments