Indian officials scrambled Thursday to save the rapidly approaching Commonwealth Games as a growing number of competitors delayed its arrival for the organizers of time to complete their frantic preparations.
The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held an emergency meeting Thursday night with his Minister of Sports and other senior officials to assess the state of preparations for the event, which begins in just over a week. He did not elaborate on what was discussed. Lieutenant Governor Tejinder Khanna New Delhi, Singh said "it was reported that all efforts are being made to develop gaming facilities and people to the standards expected."
Commonwealth Games organizing committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, whose organizing team has been involved in corruption allegations, was not asked to attend the meeting.
The games were intended to show the emergence of India as a regional power. However, the long delays in getting the facilities ready and a list of scandals have become an embarrassment.
A poll in the Hindustan Times newspaper, Thursday showed that 68 percent of respondents residing in New Delhi were ashamed of the games, which bring together athletes from 71 countries and territories of the former British Empire and are held every four years. The survey of 523 people had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
The organizers have struggled with an outbreak of dengue fever, the collapse of a pedestrian bridge leading to the main stadium and security fears after Sunday's shooting of two tourists outside a major city attractions. A Muslim militant group took over the shooting.
In concern for athletes' village _ including in-room stool and problems with plumbing, wiring and furniture _ were raised earlier this week, India has committed significant resources to the cleanup, with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit made charge of the operation, the executive of the games' chief, Mike Hooper, told The Associated Press.
"There has been an improvement every day," he said. "There is more to do."
The village, which is designed to house more than 7,000 athletes and officials, opened Thursday with 138 indigenous athletes and sports officials to move, organizers said.
Hooper said some officials in Australia had also moved in.
Kalmadi said that most of the problems of the village had been resolved and the game became a success.
"We will take care of all the world as well, and have a good time," he said.
However, many national delegations remained concerned.
The New Zealand team announced Thursday that it was joining Scotland and Canada in their late arrival to New Delhi because of the poor conditions of accommodation. England and Australia have also expressed concern for the people.
"It's tremendously disappointing," said New Zealand Olympic Committee president Mike Stanley, adding that travel changes that exert pressure on the preparations for the athletes. "We know how difficult it must be for the athletes and continue to push ... for an urgent resolution."
The Australian government said Thursday it was sending experts to assess the hygienic conditions in the village and has updated its travel advice to warn potential tourists from the construction "deficiencies" after the bridge collapsed and part of a ceiling in a given local games in.
Australian media reported that the Federal Police to travel with the team to provide additional security, while Prime Minister Julia Gillard confirmed only that "we have increased the number of staff we have in New Delhi and we have others on hold."
Commonwealth Games, Mike Fennell, president of the Federation came to India on Thursday night in an emergency visit and is scheduled to meet with senior Indian officials to discuss problems on Friday.
So far, four athletes _ including three world champions have said they will not attend due to health or safety, but not the national teams have been withdrawn.
"Everyone wants this to work, and everyone is working together to make this happen," said Hooper.
New Zealand, Prime Minister John Key, told parliament that the country's athletes will participate in games unless the safety or health are very committed and a decision could be taken on Friday.
"Obviously they will be aware of what happens with other countries, but it's certainly my preference for them to attend the games if they can," he said.
New Delhi has been a flurry of activity in recent weeks, as the city strives to list itself for the Games, which begin Oct. 3. The city has had seven years to prepare, but very little work was done until 2008.
The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held an emergency meeting Thursday night with his Minister of Sports and other senior officials to assess the state of preparations for the event, which begins in just over a week. He did not elaborate on what was discussed. Lieutenant Governor Tejinder Khanna New Delhi, Singh said "it was reported that all efforts are being made to develop gaming facilities and people to the standards expected."
Commonwealth Games organizing committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, whose organizing team has been involved in corruption allegations, was not asked to attend the meeting.
The games were intended to show the emergence of India as a regional power. However, the long delays in getting the facilities ready and a list of scandals have become an embarrassment.
A poll in the Hindustan Times newspaper, Thursday showed that 68 percent of respondents residing in New Delhi were ashamed of the games, which bring together athletes from 71 countries and territories of the former British Empire and are held every four years. The survey of 523 people had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
The organizers have struggled with an outbreak of dengue fever, the collapse of a pedestrian bridge leading to the main stadium and security fears after Sunday's shooting of two tourists outside a major city attractions. A Muslim militant group took over the shooting.
In concern for athletes' village _ including in-room stool and problems with plumbing, wiring and furniture _ were raised earlier this week, India has committed significant resources to the cleanup, with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit made charge of the operation, the executive of the games' chief, Mike Hooper, told The Associated Press.
"There has been an improvement every day," he said. "There is more to do."
The village, which is designed to house more than 7,000 athletes and officials, opened Thursday with 138 indigenous athletes and sports officials to move, organizers said.
Hooper said some officials in Australia had also moved in.
Kalmadi said that most of the problems of the village had been resolved and the game became a success.
"We will take care of all the world as well, and have a good time," he said.
However, many national delegations remained concerned.
The New Zealand team announced Thursday that it was joining Scotland and Canada in their late arrival to New Delhi because of the poor conditions of accommodation. England and Australia have also expressed concern for the people.
"It's tremendously disappointing," said New Zealand Olympic Committee president Mike Stanley, adding that travel changes that exert pressure on the preparations for the athletes. "We know how difficult it must be for the athletes and continue to push ... for an urgent resolution."
The Australian government said Thursday it was sending experts to assess the hygienic conditions in the village and has updated its travel advice to warn potential tourists from the construction "deficiencies" after the bridge collapsed and part of a ceiling in a given local games in.
Australian media reported that the Federal Police to travel with the team to provide additional security, while Prime Minister Julia Gillard confirmed only that "we have increased the number of staff we have in New Delhi and we have others on hold."
Commonwealth Games, Mike Fennell, president of the Federation came to India on Thursday night in an emergency visit and is scheduled to meet with senior Indian officials to discuss problems on Friday.
So far, four athletes _ including three world champions have said they will not attend due to health or safety, but not the national teams have been withdrawn.
"Everyone wants this to work, and everyone is working together to make this happen," said Hooper.
New Zealand, Prime Minister John Key, told parliament that the country's athletes will participate in games unless the safety or health are very committed and a decision could be taken on Friday.
"Obviously they will be aware of what happens with other countries, but it's certainly my preference for them to attend the games if they can," he said.
New Delhi has been a flurry of activity in recent weeks, as the city strives to list itself for the Games, which begin Oct. 3. The city has had seven years to prepare, but very little work was done until 2008.
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