NEW DELHI, Aug 20: Commonwealth Games organisers on Friday vowed to clean the athletes' village for the Delhi 2010 Games after being rebuked for not paying enough attention to hygiene and cleanliness.

Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell criticised the mess around the village on Thursday after a two-day inspection of the venues for the October 3-14 Games in the Indian capital.

“I feel some buildings in the village could have been done better,” Fennell told reporters. “The international zone of the village, like the dining room and kitchen, is behind time.

“The sanitation has to improve and the hygiene has to be of the highest standards. There is need to address the roads around the village, the landscaping and the cleanliness.”

Lalit Bhanot, secretary-general of the Indian organising committee and chief spokesman, said Fennell's concerns had been passed on to the relevant authorities looking after the village.

“We are giving priority to ensure the athletes do not face any trouble at the village. It will be a world-class facility when they arrive next month,” Bhanot told AFP.

Fennell, who also inspected all 17 sports venues for the Games, said he was pleased with the progress that had been made, but that there remained a lot of work to do in the next 44 days before the event opens.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Weathering the storm
29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

THE year 2023 is a sobering reminder of the tumultuous relationship Asia has with climate change and how this change...
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...
Return to the helm
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Return to the helm

With Nawaz Sharif as PML-N president, will we see more grievances being aired?
Unvaxxed & vulnerable
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Unvaxxed & vulnerable

Even deadly mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria have vaccines, but they are virtually unheard of in Pakistan.
Gaza’s hell
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Gaza’s hell

Perhaps Western ‘statesmen’ may moderate their policies if a significant percentage of voters punish them at the ballot box.