Call the Games off, demands British media

Pictures and reports of the collapse of the bridge near the main Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and poor living conditions in the Games Village hogged the newspaper space, with the leading daily ‘The Guardian’ asking ‘Does this look ready to you?’

Labelling the Commonwealth Games in Delhi a public relations disaster, the British media made the comparison saying while China had delivered a first class infrastructure for the Beijing Olympics, India’s efforts were in chaos.

The sad events in Delhi with number of nations raising question marks over the health standards and living conditions in the Games Village were accorded lead positions in prime time TV bulletins.

The question marks over the cleanliness standards in the Games infrastructure were interspersed with reports of pull out by three top English athletes including the world triple jump champion Phillips Idowu due to concerns over security.

In a leading article titled ‘Wounded Pride and Public Relations, ‘The Independent’ made comparisons between India’s efforts to stage the games and China’s spectacular staging of the Olympic Games in 2008.

It said: “It is tempting to make comparisons with China. The stereotype is that efficient China delivers first-class infrastructure and prestige building projects while chaotic India struggles. It is undoubtedly true that China has leapt ahead of its Asian economic rival in terms of the development of transport and energy infrastructure in recent years”.

‘Bad joke’

The Canadian media tore India apart, describing its  Commonwealth Games preparations as “a bad joke” on the world.

“Monsoon rains, a dengue fever epidemic, car bombs, a collapsing pedestrian bridge, corrupt construction rackets, traffic Armageddon, indifferent politicians and a filthy athletes’ village that does not even have proper plumbing yet. Or wiring. Or paint on the walls,” the National Post wrote on Tuesday.