SYDNEY, Aug 13 Australia's Olympic chief says any future games bid by India will be judged on the country's ability to successfully host the Commonwealth Games in October.

Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates said on Thursday that infrastructure problems and continuing security concerns over New Delhi's Commonwealth Games from Oct 3-14 could damage India's possible bid.

“In the Olympic world we would certainly prefer that venues are all finished one year before, that you're able to have test events to test the venues, to test the organisation,” Coates said.

“We did have some similar experiences with Athens [Olympics in 2004] and I'm sure the [Commonwealth] Games will happen, but certainly I wouldn't like to be involved in something with construction happening so close to the event.”

Indian organisers, who thought a successful Commonwealth Games could be a springboard for a future Olympic Games bid, are under pressure to complete the venues in time.

The local organising committee last week suspended high-ranking officials at the request of the Indian government following allegations of financial irregularities in the planning of an event to launch the Queen's Baton Relay in London.

There's also been wide reporting of corruption related to the building of infrastructure and venues.

“In many ways you're in the hands of organising committees,” Coates said. “You're in the hands of governments, you get to a stage where you have to trust them, you have to back them.”—AP

Opinion

Editorial

Writing on the wall
27 Jul, 2026

Writing on the wall

EVERY few months, another set of figures reminds Pakistan of a painful reality. Sahil’s latest Six Months Cruel...
Still unprepared
27 Jul, 2026

Still unprepared

EVEN as Pakistan counts around 100 deaths since the onset of the monsoon season on June 26, it is bracing for ...
Delayed devolution
27 Jul, 2026

Delayed devolution

THE debate over Islamabad’s reluctance to fully let go of devolved subjects has been running since 2010. But it ...
Quid pro quo
Updated 26 Jul, 2026

Quid pro quo

Accepting Israel would mean legitimising its violence against the Palestinians, as well as its neighbouring Arab states and Iran.
AI in government
26 Jul, 2026

AI in government

THE Prime Minister’s Office has announced the introduction of an AI-powered digital system and directed ministries...
Cautious optimism
26 Jul, 2026

Cautious optimism

THE latest polio surveillance figures offer some encouraging news regarding the difficult fight against polio. The...