• Commonwealth Games

Bridge collapse sparks further fears

ESPN staff
September 21, 2010
The collapse of a bridge near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium has raised safety concerns ahead of the Commonwealth Games
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The Commonwealth Games hit another setback when a footbridge near the main stadium in Delhi collapsed on Tuesday, injuring at least 23 people.

The bridge, which was still under construction to link the main carpark to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, collapsed onto the carpark below.

"A footbridge was under construction in the parking lot of the JN stadium," said Rajan Bhagat, a spokesman for Delhi police. "Five to six labourers have been injured and rushed to hospital. There is no need to panic and the pictures on TV make it look much worse than it is."

The news comes after the England and Scotland teams both revealed they had "grave concerns" over the state of the athletes' village, prompting the Games president to set the organisers a 24-hour deadline.

With less than two weeks to go before the event, some of the accommodation for the 71 competing nations and their 6500 team members was described as "unsafe and unfit for human habitation."

Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell has demanded "serious action" in the next 24 hours after concerns were raised over the state of the facilities.

"I am expecting some serious action in the next 24 hours," Fennell said. "We have been waiting for the village to be ready before the athletes arrive but we have not seen any action so far.

"I raised the matter with authorities. The village residential zone needs a lot of attention. It needs to be fixed urgently. The athletes come first."

Commonwealth Games Scotland arrived in Delhi to set up its team headquarters but was met with accommodation that was not completed. The Scottish team still plan to take part in the Games but "will not compromise on issues of health, safety and security".

A statement by Commonwealth Games Scotland read: "The athletes' village is not only at the heart of any Commonwealth Games, but is fundamental to the staging of the event. The specification for the village set by Delhi 2010 promised to be of the highest standard, surpassing anything that had gone before.

"However on arrival in Delhi on Thursday last week, Team Scotland officials found that building works had fallen seriously behind schedule and that its allocated accommodation blocks were far from finished and in their view, unsafe and unfit for human habitation."

Team Scotland chef de mission Jon Doig joined with other team chiefs in Delhi to put pressure on the Indian government and organising committee to address the issues as a matter of urgency.

"Representation was also made to the Commonwealth Games Federation to make a realistic decision as to at what point and under what conditions they would determine whether the Games will be able to go ahead should the village issues not be resolved," said the statement.

"Commonwealth Games Scotland is pleased that the Commonwealth Games Federation has now responded and formally written to the Indian Cabinet Secretary to express their concern and to request immediate action."

Meanwhile Team England are "optimistic" they will compete, but have said the village requires urgent work before the Games begin on October 3.

"Commonwealth Games England remains optimistic that England participation at the Games can go ahead," said a statement. "However there is a lot still to be done in the village and this needs to be done with some urgency so that it is ready for the arrival of our first athletes on Friday."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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