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

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...