BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi

Subject: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 05:51 AM

Oh dear, not only has the bridge collapsed and the standards for the athletes are abysmal, a part of the roof for the weight lifters has collapsed. Also I think people shot.

I personally think the plug should be pulled now before anybody lives to regret it.

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 06:53 AM

I totally agree, don't go there.

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: Richie Black (misused acct, bad email)
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 07:12 AM

England should withdraw from the Commonwealth Games. Three top athletes have already pulled out and that stadium bride collapsed just two weeks before the start of the competition, imagine if it had been full of people.

This incident highlights the raft of problems that have so far blighted the event. India is simply a third world country, not a emerging global power.

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: Ed T
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 07:19 AM

What is sad is how countries compete for these events, spend lots of money to in preparation for sports events. Most often, far more than they budget for (including the associated bribes and construction corruption underneath behind the scenes of many such events), so they must cut costs or take the money from other government programs where it could do more good. It's all based on the false and inflated economic promise of snake oil marketers, that having the games will somehow improve the economic conditions of the country where they are held...in this case a poorer one.

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 07:43 AM

The Commonwealth Games, generally, seem to have lost their appeal to many top athletes. Usain Bolt won't be there, and neither will the new Kenyan running sensation David Rudisha. Having said that, whoever Jamaica and Kenyan send to the games will be pretty special.
I fear if these games are a flop, then it might be the end of the Commonweath Games (btw, I'm so old I can remember when they were called the Empire Games!)

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 09:54 AM

The remnant of imperialism that is the Commonwealth should be dissolved - "apart from some local government, all any citizen of our modern world needs is their own nation and the United Nations" (from here).

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: Richie Black (misused acct, bad email)
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 09:58 AM

The ceiling at the Commonwealth Games weightlifting venue has just caved in a day after 27 workers were injured when a footbridge collapsed near the same sports complex.

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 10:21 AM

The Commonwealth isn't limited to former British colonies or dependencies. Some countries with no connection to the UK have found it worthwhile to join.

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 11:38 AM

They do serve good curry though!!

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 12:47 PM

"They do serve good curry though!! "

Who? The weight lifters!

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: gnu
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 01:41 PM

A number of nations have "initiated" cancelling... giving a week to get guarantees of safety and proof of accomodations cleanup, etc.

Simply a "don't be (seen as) rash" posture. Doesn't look good for the games.

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: Tangledwood
Date: 23 Sep 10 - 04:47 AM

The Commonwealth isn't limited to former British colonies or dependencies. Some countries with no connection to the UK have found it worthwhile to join.

But residents of some traditionally Commonwealth countries wonder what it means to be a member. Any benefits there once may have been seem to have disappeared since UK dumped them in preference to the EEU.

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: Tangledwood
Date: 23 Sep 10 - 04:49 AM

Just adding to that - although I'm UK born I travel on an Australian passport. To enter UK via Heathrow I have to join the "Aliens" queue.

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 23 Sep 10 - 05:51 AM

If there is a risk to health and safety then it makes sense to withdraw competitors from the games it is commonsense. In the workplace if things are below safety standards you wouldn't be allowed to access it, simple.

But I do feel sorry for Dehli having every disaster reported at every turn and now added to that the ceiling collapsing. It is not the workers fault, this is an opportunity for them to earn whatever they can for their families and probably only going by what they have been instructed to do by the foreman or whoever, at the same time being heavily critisised by the other countries for sub-standard conditions. The blame has to be with the contractor company running the work on the site I would think. Perhaps most of the builders working for them aren't fully trained or qualified.

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 23 Sep 10 - 06:02 AM

They just said on Sky, that if the rain continues, there is danger of the river bank breaking up and this could flood the camp.

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: Arnie
Date: 23 Sep 10 - 06:51 AM

Tangledwood - as you are born in the UK then you are entitled to a UK passport if one of your parents or grandparents is also UK born or were settled in the UK at the time of your birth. The UK allows dual citizenship so you can hold both a UK ppt and an Australian one. You are in effect a British citizen so it is up to you to get the passport if you don't want to join the others queue (we don't use the term aliens at border control). To return to the subjet of this thread, Glasgow will be hosting the next CW games and the UK has the Olympics in 2012. If any of the British teams boycott Delhi, then expect a boycott back. It could also harm the trade links that the UK is building up with this emerging market. India owns car factories and other businesses in the UK employing thousands - now would not be a good time to upset them. I believe that Plan B is to house the athletes in some of Delhi's 5 star hotels - wish I was going!!

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 23 Sep 10 - 12:19 PM

The river which is right by the camp is at its highest since 1978. It looks like it is only a couple of inches from bursting its banks.
That would flood the camp.

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 23 Sep 10 - 02:27 PM

Blimey, it would seem that an outbreak of dengue fever is in the area.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_fever

Glad I won't be there :-)

India PM Manmohan Singh holds Commonwealth crisis talks

Subject: RE: BS: Commonwealth Games New Delhi
From: Tangledwood
Date: 24 Sep 10 - 04:17 AM

Tangledwood - as you are born in the UK then you are entitled to a UK passport

Understood, but my point is that if commonwealth membership still meant anything it wouldn't be an issue.