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Greene vies to overcome Delhi hurdles

Dai Greene is the reigning European 400m hurdles champion © Getty Images

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• Profile: Dai Greene

European 400 metre hurdles champion Dai Greene insists he has not been distracted by the chaos surrounding the build-up the Commonwealth Games, and is fully focused on winning a medal in Delhi.

Concerns over the state of facilities were raised when the athletes' village was described as "unsafe and unfit for human habitation". The collapse of a footbridge near the main stadium led to further fears of a widespread boycott, but Greene insists pulling out was never an option.

"I'm in this to win medals," Greene told The Times. "I can see that as the mark of how good an athlete you are. In my mind this is one of those events I want to do and have to do.

"It's a great honour and there's just no reason why I wouldn't. And I get more support running for Wales than Great Britain."

Following the withdrawal of a number of high-profile British athletes - including England's Phillips Idowu, Scottish tennis player Elena Baltacha and Welsh cyclist Geraint Thomas - over concerns for their health, Greene is quick to absolve the individuals of any blame, insisting the responsibility lies solely with the organising committee.

"Nobody would have pulled out if they'd got their act together," Greene said. "India has had this opportunity, they knew we were coming and they only have themselves to blame.

"It's disappointing they weren't checking things and building weren't built 12 months ago. The blame does not lie with the athletes, it's with the organisers, who have had seven years to prepare."

Meanwhile, Team England have given the green light to the athletes' accommodation after 20 support staff stayed there on Sunday.

"It's not perfect but the accommodation is acceptable for the athletes," said England chef de mission Craig Hunter. "The village had the potential to be five star. We're at about three star."

"We are now getting back on track with the planned and phased arrival of athletes and we will begin to reach a peak of team numbers on 5 October. It has been a challenging experience but one which will make us stronger as we strive to be successful now on the field of play".

England may have given the all-clear for athletes to move into the accommodation on Monday, but it comes as news of a snake found in a South African athlete's room, as well as a broken bed of a home boxer. Indian bantamweight Akhil Kumar's bed collapsed when he sat on it. "I checked the bed and part of it had no plywood on it," Kumar said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.