Diplomatic feud latest woe at Commonwealth Games
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
NEW DELHI, Sept 28 (AP): A diplomatic feud is brewing amid the already existing chaos at the Commonwealth Games, this time involving Prince Charles and Indian President Pratibha Patil. With Queen Elizabeth II skipping the New Delhi Games - the first Commonwealth Games she's missed since 1966 - the prince is scheduled to speak on his mother's behalf at Sunday's opening ceremony. However, many Indians feel Patil should be the one to officially inaugurate the games, the first to be held in India and only the second in Asia.
"There is no row. Both the Prince of Wales and the president of India will have a prominent role in the opening ceremony in Delhi," the prince's office, Clarence House, said in a statement. "We cannot be specific about the choreography, but the prince will read out the Queen's baton message, ending by declaring the games open." Patil's office did not want to comment on the matter. "This is a diplomatic issue which will be decided on by the ministry of external affairs," the Indian president's office said. The latest scandal to hit the Commonwealth Games comes as more and more athletes - 850 were expected Tuesday - are arriving in New Delhi and moving into the athletes' village, which was described last week as filthy and uninhabitable.
New Zealand, which had delayed its arrival in India until the village was cleaned up, sent its first athletes into their living quarters on Sunday night - two days later than planned. "Obviously, there's been a bit of work go in over the past few days, but as far as we're concerned, it's fine," New Zealand lawn bowling coach Dave Edwards said. "There's a little bit of dust and some poor finishing with plaster and paint and things like that, but we're very happy with what we've got."
Some of the buildings still had leaks in them, and there was still water in some basements, according to New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who took charge of the work at the athletes' village last week.
"They're keeping ahead of it. They've got a lot of cleaners and workers here, but I understand there are still a few countries experiencing problems," New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie said.
The New Delhi police on Tuesday said that security forces have fully taken over the at the venues for the Commonwealth Games. "(The) security situation is totally under control," New Delhi police commissioner Y.S. Dadwal said. "Everything is looked after."
Organizers were also working to shield visitors from one of India's most enduring problems: poverty. Many of this city's beggars have been arrested or forced from the streets, migrants have been rousted, and thousands of homes hidden from sight. Another top athlete also withdrew from the games on Tuesday. Cypriot high jumper Kyriakos Iannou, who won the silver medal at last year's world championships in Berlin, pulled out of the competition "for strictly personal reasons," Cyprus Olympic Committee director Olga Piperidou said.
"There is no row. Both the Prince of Wales and the president of India will have a prominent role in the opening ceremony in Delhi," the prince's office, Clarence House, said in a statement. "We cannot be specific about the choreography, but the prince will read out the Queen's baton message, ending by declaring the games open." Patil's office did not want to comment on the matter. "This is a diplomatic issue which will be decided on by the ministry of external affairs," the Indian president's office said. The latest scandal to hit the Commonwealth Games comes as more and more athletes - 850 were expected Tuesday - are arriving in New Delhi and moving into the athletes' village, which was described last week as filthy and uninhabitable.
New Zealand, which had delayed its arrival in India until the village was cleaned up, sent its first athletes into their living quarters on Sunday night - two days later than planned. "Obviously, there's been a bit of work go in over the past few days, but as far as we're concerned, it's fine," New Zealand lawn bowling coach Dave Edwards said. "There's a little bit of dust and some poor finishing with plaster and paint and things like that, but we're very happy with what we've got."
Some of the buildings still had leaks in them, and there was still water in some basements, according to New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who took charge of the work at the athletes' village last week.
"They're keeping ahead of it. They've got a lot of cleaners and workers here, but I understand there are still a few countries experiencing problems," New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie said.
The New Delhi police on Tuesday said that security forces have fully taken over the at the venues for the Commonwealth Games. "(The) security situation is totally under control," New Delhi police commissioner Y.S. Dadwal said. "Everything is looked after."
Organizers were also working to shield visitors from one of India's most enduring problems: poverty. Many of this city's beggars have been arrested or forced from the streets, migrants have been rousted, and thousands of homes hidden from sight. Another top athlete also withdrew from the games on Tuesday. Cypriot high jumper Kyriakos Iannou, who won the silver medal at last year's world championships in Berlin, pulled out of the competition "for strictly personal reasons," Cyprus Olympic Committee director Olga Piperidou said.