INDIA: COMMONWEALTH GAMES - Australia team chief Perry Crosswhite visits Commonwealth Games venue in New Dehli

Record ID: 1376951

  • Title: INDIA: COMMONWEALTH GAMES - Australia team chief Perry Crosswhite visits Commonwealth Games venue in New Dehli
  • Date: 25th September 2010
  • Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (SEPTEMBER 24, 2010) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) SNIFFER DOGS SEARCHING THE AREA AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE GAMES VILLAGE SECURITY OFFICER WITH SNIFFER DOG SECURITY PERSONNEL CHECKING THE AREA WITH SNIFFER DOGS SNIFFER DOG SEARCHING JOURNALISTS SETTING UP THEIR EQUIPMENT AT VENUE POLICE PERSONNEL STANDING AT THE ENTRANCE GATE TO THE VILLAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF OF AUSTRALIA'S COMMONWEALTH GAMES ASSOCIATION, PERRY CROSSWHITE, SAYING: "We were quite happy with the Village. We are happy to live there and we are looking forward to the Games." REPORTER ASKS: "Your contingent is on its way?" CROSSWHITE REPLIES: " "Absolutely." REPORTER ASKS: "Is it a thumbs up then from the Australian side then?" CROSSWHITE REPLIES: "Yeah, Thumbs Up." PERRY CROSSWHITE, CHIEF, AUSTRALIA'S COMMONWEALTH GAMES ASSOCIATION, LEAVING POLICE PERSONNEL STANDING AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE VILLAGE
  • Embargoed: 10th October 2010 09:36
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: International Relations,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA944HN8WBKV0ONTD0YMJK491IG
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Australian Commonwealth Games official visits embattled athletes village, says preparations are satisfactory.
    Australian Commonwealth Games Chief, Perry Crosswhite, on Friday (September 24) visited the embattled athletes village in Indian capital to inspect the preparedness of the facilities.
    After visiting the Games Village, where a massive clean-up operation is underway, Crosswhite said the Australian contingent would be ready to move in on September 27.
    "We were quite happy with the Village. We are happy to live there and we are looking forward to the Games," he said.
    A number of countries have sent advance teams to take stock of the situation on the ground following reports of housing compounds that were "unfit for human habitation".
    With only nine days to go, security has been tightened in and around the venues, the Games Village as well as throughout the capital.
    Sniffer dogs were deployed around the Games Village along with police who patrolled the facility.
    A collapsed footbridge, falling ceiling tiles, a dengue outbreak have also contributed to the uproar in India and abroad over the Games, raising questions over the country's ability to host the event.
    India is scrambling against the clock to save the Games after big ticket athletes quit the showcase event and nations threatened to stay home unless authorities cleaned up the venues.
    Scotland and Canada delayed sending athletes to New Delhi while Wales sought guarantees from Organisers that the venues and athletes' village were safe. The New Zealand swimming team looked for a "Plan B" should the event be cancelled.
    Two high-profile Kenyan athletes, citing injury and illness, pulled out and a South African sports boss made clear his team would consider following suit if there were any more major hitches.
    Canadian archers Kevin Tataryn and Dietmar Trillus, who was considered a medal threat in the men's compound bow, decided to withdraw anyway.
    Security concerns are also high on the list after two Taiwanese journalists were shot and wounded by unknown assailants at the weekend in the capital. Australian TV also broadcast how a reporter was able to bring in bomb-making devices through security points, although Indian police have denied the journalist ever crossed a checkpoint.
    The Games are due to commence on October 3 and end on the 14th.
    The multi-sport event which has cost India between $3-6 billion was supposed to showcase the country's rising economic and political clout, but infrastructure failures, corruption scandals and security concerns have threatened to turn the event into a farce.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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