Will Jersey risk going to the broken Games?
Wednesday 22nd September 2010, 3:00PM BST.
Indian workers remove debris of a footbridge, which collapsed yesterday near the main stadium in Delhi, injuring 27 workers. Today it was reported that the ceiling of the weightlifting arena had collapsed. Picture: Anupam Nath
CONCERNS over ‘filthy, unhygienic and unliveable’ accommodation could lead to Jersey’s team pulling out of the Delhi Commonwealth Games today.
Individual athletes from various countries have already refused to travel to India to compete over concerns about accommodation and security, and the entire Scotland team has this morning delayed its departure.
Jersey Commonwealth Games Association president Martin Hebden said that a
decision on whether to pull the 53-strong Jersey team out of the event would be made today.
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It will depend on whether the athletes are locals or not, if not then they will feel right at home as the accommodation will reflect their non quals accommodation in Jersey.
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the footage of the accomodation, as seen on sky news , was not bad , by indian standards .
people should remember there are still people sleeping in the the street or railway station.
they will be swept away for the the games for sure .
the report on why the bridge collapsed , and the ceiling fell down , should make a good read , the public of india may never know.
india does not need this kind of bad press , as its doing well at the moment.
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Where is the strength of character of the Jersey people that saw them through the Occupation? Go to the Commonwealth Games and hold your heads high! Don’t be a follower but a leader, quietly confident in yourselves.
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When visiting Delhi a month ago, it was difficult to imagine that all the outstanding work would be completed ahead of the Games opening on 03 October. The locals of course were confident that deadlines would be met and all would be well but clearly this is not the case. The situation is not helped by what appears to be unsafe construction together with attacks on tourists. After all the training and preparation by the athletes, not to mention the cost, it would be a shame for the Games to be cancelled but the current crisis suggests that they will.
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Well said Exiled St Ouennais – hold your heads high and be grateful you have the opportunity to represent our great islands. Be thankful that the Indians have put such hard work in so far (even if it is below western expectations) and step up to the plate and help the games become spectacular
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I love Delhi and for many I am sure this may be the only opportunity they get to visit this wonderful city. It would be a shame to waste such an opportunity for the sake of a few shoddy hotel bedrooms.
It’s very sad, it appears that some people don’t have a sense of adventure anymore.
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What not go! And allow some other ‘nation’s’ athletes to take the wooden spoon – I think not!!
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That’s not fair ‘Exiled St Ouennais’ you are well aware that capitulation is not an event at the Commonwealth Games.
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Exiled St Ouennais said:
Where is the strength of character of the Jersey people that saw them through the Occupation?
I think you are confused. The Jersey athletes only get to wave a white flag at the opening ceremony – it’s not an event in the games.
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It’s a 3rd world country where sickness and poverty is rife. This was known when the games were awarded!
I agree with small money #2 the accommodation shown on Sky did not look that bad, I for one have stayed in worse when visiting poor countries.
These games will bring a lot of badly needed tourist cash to the country that “may” filter down to the needy.
I do hope that if the decision is taken not to attend it’s for genuine health reasons and not the Jersey Commonwealth Games Association being a prima donna.
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Exiled St Ouennais (3) Go to the Commonwealth Games and hold your heads high!
How true. The Indians may have egg all over their face, but we have no right to rub their noses in it. The finance industry will soon need their custom, so let’s show some unlighted diplomacy.
Laugh in the face of adversity and GO TO DELHI.
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When a building collapes on you and either kills or paralyses you, at least you will have done it with a sense of adventure. If you’re lucky enough not to be crushed you might be adventurous enough to catch a lovely stomach disease that lurks in your system for a few years. What wacky fun that would be!
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My question is why would the Commonwealth committee give the games to India in the first place? – many Indian’s being interviewed in the media quite rightly state that such an impoverished country has far greater areas where capital could be wisely invested. Why spend multi-millions on stadia and the like when so many people live in absolute poverty.
In terms of the actual position at present … it should be of grave concern that neither Health & Safety nor building regulations truly exist in India and the recent bridge collapse and loss of the roof in the weights arena justifies just how dangerous an event this could be in very basic areas … and that’s without even mentioning the massive security risks, helath risks associated with the continuing monsoons etc. etc.
The athlete accommodation shown on SKY and the like is likely to be the best example of the facilities and whilst the current pictures on bbc.co.uk/sport most likely depict the worst it is extremely concenring that any area of the accommodation is in thsi condition at a tiem when athletes are already arriving for the games.
I take my hat off to anyone who is attending the games under such condiitons, but fully understand anyone who would put personal safety, and ultimately their lives, above the chance to represent their island.
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ha! ha! like comment 1 for sure the living standards are proberly better than Jersey for sure!..But yeah i would,nt bother going to the games, save yer money dont think we ever bring a medal home anyway. Don,t we just go for shooting, and the egg and spoon race?
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Perhaps a wide boycott of these games will fire a warning shot across the bows of the organising committee and prevent them from giving the Commonwealth Games to any other country which cannot provide decent living conditions for the athletes. It is not good enough to claim that these conditions are normal by average Indian standards – the average Indian is not an athlete who has spent years honing their performance and whose whole career could be ruined by disease or injury. If I had a son or daughter who might be sent to India as part of a Commonwealth team I would be worried sick.
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Whilst I agree with the sentiment that Jersey should adopt something of a “stiff upper lip” and lead the rest of the world into these games, I don’t think we should patronise and insult Delhi by alluding to “Indian standards”. They were awarded the Commonwealth Games fairly on a strong bid, so we should expect delivery of a quality competition. If this was London 2012, we would not be so forgiving. As an international competition there is no room for error, but lets not make final judgement now. There is still time for India to deliver a brilliant Commonwealth Games.
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No 1…..that is so funny but also so sad that people have to live in such terrible accomodation right here in Jersey just cos of one of their stupid lil rules …I say scrap qualies and let it be equal for all.
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If I were in the team I’d still go. Why pull out? Ok the accomodation is not perfect, far from it, go and stay in a hotel if you’re that bothered. I think it would be an insult to the people of Delhi who, with limited funds and knowledge, have tried their hardest to produce somwehere for this years games. These people have probably sacrificed a lot to do this.
It’s not like the competitors are being asked to move there after all! It’s for a short period. Might actually make some people appreciate what they have.
Jersey team should go, hold their heads high and just enjoy themselves.
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“badly needed tourist cash to the country ”
India is not a poor country. The money it receives from the UK aid pot has in effect paid for its new fleet of US military air transport planes.
India’s Navy is growing to what could be argued as no longer of Third World Status.
India is also a nuclear country too.
And you don’t get all of that by being short of money.
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#13 We could ask the same of the 2012 Olympics. Why is England hosting it when they have so many people in poverty? Why host an event that has put other countries in serious debt for years afterwards? And why make the choice to host it at a time when England were already heading for a recession?
#19 Flymo, it will be! With a population predicted to quadruple in the next 40 years, India is going to seriously hinder its own economic growth unless it takes steps to curb its population growth. The steps taken so far haven’t been very convincing.
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I think we should grow some!and get a life.
on my recent trip to Scotland,GLASGOW,is looking fantastic already for the next games.the new venues are being built as we speak,the velodrome .and new national indoor arena .with the brilliant Armadillo-clyde auditorium already in place.What a brilliant city.
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WHY on earth do we spend such ridiculous sums of money on people running about and throwing things?
Tens and tens of BILLIONS of pounds wasted on commonwealth games, olympics, island games, winter games etc.etc. which could well be better used on food, water, medicine and emergency relief for well publicized recent tragedies.
Its a disgrace the money spent on such events.
I for one as a taxpayer simply dont want my money paying for such things. Ive never to my knowledge been asked if I want to pay for such things.
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My step brother is heading off to the Games cycling, and I am incredibly proud of him! No need for all the nagative comments above about Jersey poeple thank you! They are representing OUR Island!!!!
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my comment of “indian standards” is not to be taken as a insult. i love india , great place and great people , from the richest to the poorest.
i would like to wish the jersey team all the very best, and all other teams who attend.
and wish the whole of india success in its growth, in general.
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I would suggest to Gods Mentor to take a chill pill, we should be immensely proud of the Jersey competitors in the CWG , I am quite sure that to have trained for years ,and have actually made the qualifying standard is an immense personal achievement, what would gods mentor rather have these sports men and women do, waste their time in the pub, smoking and drinking or achieve the position of qualifying for the CWG which is only second to the Olympic games. I would ask Gods Mentor when was the last time he or she ran a mile or achieved the top of your game it sounds to me your are just a jealous critic. Good luck to all the competitors win or lose your lives will be enriched by your experience and from the new friends you will make.
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To No. 3, With reference to Nos. 8 and 9:
Stirring stuff – as an expat Jerseyman who as a child lived through the occupation, I really feel rallied to the (white?) flag…
Joking aside (and I can only consider No. 3′s occupation-related comments as a joke), the team should go, compete and bring back as many medals as they can. The Delhi games may not be perfect, but not to attend would be an affront to the hosts, to the spirit of the games and especially to those men and women of the island who have invested so much of their time and money in training hard to qualify and to compete.
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What a two faced lot!
I bet all those moaning on here will be tucking into there curry tonight.
Did you ever ask yourself what might be in that!
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hear that the teams are off to the games , good luck, the lady archer who has the kidney problem, there are exellent doctors and good hospitals in delhi, they even have quite a few mri scanners , and have done for years, also going private is afforable.
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