Commonwealth chaos for local athletes

LISBURN'S Commonwealth Games team members were plunged into chaos this week when it emerged officials from several competing teams were monitoring reports that conditions in the athletes village were "unliveable".

Health and safety fears were raised over the venues in Delhi after a footbridge collapsed on Tuesday, injuring 27 people, several critically. A steel arch supporting the 164-foot long footbridge collapsed outside the Nehru Stadium, which is to host the opening and closing ceremonies and athletic events during the Games which will begin on October 3.

The Games were then thrown into more chaos on Wednesday after a ceiling collapsed at the weightlifting arena.

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Meanwhile, Scottish officials found their original accommodation to be "unsafe and unfit for human habitation", whilst several competitors, including triple-jumper Phillips Idowu, England's defending Commonwealth champion, have pulled out citing "safety concerns".

Two members of the NI Commonwealth Games Council visited Delhi this week and are due to report back on the conditions they find, leaving local athletes up in the air over whether they will get to compete at the event.

A NI Commonwealth Games Council spokesperson said that "the health and safety of our athletes is paramount," adding on Wednesday that, "the next 48 hours are critical."

Lisburn athlete Luke Carson, who was last week celebrating having been selected to the Northern Ireland team to compete in the Men's Artistic Gymnastics said it would be "a disaster" if the Games were cancelled.

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Luke, who said that athletes were unsure what would happen, stated: "We've been told nothing really; I don't think we'll find out anything for a couple of days, so I just don't know.

"Obviously I'm concerned, but I'm more worried I might not even get the chance to go. This is what I've been training for for four years. I've sacrificed so much, I've put my education on hold, I've moved to a new country; it would be an absolute disaster if I don't get to go, but I'm trying to keep optimistic."

Luke added: "My coach just said, 'train as if you're 100% going, don't let anything affect it.' It would be one of the biggest disasters in sport if it is cancelled."

In a statement, the NI Commonwealth Games Council said: "Two of our senior team members, Stewart Tosh and Terry Crothers have arrived in Delhi (Wednesday 22nd September). Both are very experienced having attended a number of Games in a management capacity and were present at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune in 2008; therefore are aware of the set up and indeed the Indian culture.

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"They will speak to other Home Nations who have been there for the last number of days and they will also speak with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and the CWG Delhi Organising Committee. Following this they will pull information together and report back to chief de mission Robert McVeigh.

"We must stress that the health and safety of our athletes is paramount and we will not deny that the next 48 hours are critical. Team NI still plan to depart on Monday, September 27as scheduled for Delhi. We remain positive and await the information first hand from our senior management team."

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