• Commonwealth Games

Commonwealths Games hit by roof collapse

The Commonwealth Games suffered another setback on Wednesday after a portion of the roof in the weightlifting arena collapsed.

The New Delhi event was thrown into turmoil on Tuesday when a footbridge close to the main stadium buckled, injuring at least 23 people. As a consequence, big-name stars such as defending triple jump champion Phillips Idowu have already pulled out of the Games.

Now the event has been cast into further jeopardy following news of problems with the weightlifting arena, which comes on the back of major criticism of the athletes' village. Commonwealth Games England chairman Sir Andrew Foster had already stated that the event was 'on a knife-edge' before the latest reports of a second collapse.

Foster told BBC Breakfast: "I think the next 24 to 48 hours is the critical time which will tell us whether the village - which is where the main problem is now - has got enough accommodation for everybody to come into it. I think we're at an absolutely vital time [regarding] whether the major teams go.

"Our staff have been round all 17 sports venues and they are in good order, so the key remaining feature which there's a problem with is the village. The other problems have been resolved. It's a situation that hangs on a knife-edge."

Indian Cabinet Secretary KM Chandreshekhar has reacted to Wednesday's roof collapse, insisting there is no reason to worry.

"The cables which were to be set up for the data network were placed on the false ceiling and due to the weight of the cables the ceiling fell off," he told website IBNLive.com. "It's a minor thing and it will be corrected. It's not a matter to be worried about."

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