Scotland delays departure to Commonwealth Games

Published>Wed, Sep 22 10 06:38 PM

Scotland has delayed the departure of its first 41 athletes and officials to the Commonwealth Games because of ongoing health and security fears in Delhi.

Michael Cavanagh, chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said the standard of the athletes village was still causing concern.

Part of the village which we've been moved to, which was the latest part to be finished in a real hurry, is in a very poor condition and a poor state of maintenance, he told BBC Radio on Wednesday.

There have been dogs roaming around the village, the apartments are filthy, there are piles of rubble and right now it's not fit to receive 6,500 athletes and officials, which is what is due to happen in seven days.

Cavanagh said he still expected Scotland's team to compete in the Games but said the welfare of athletes was the priority.

Scotland is hugely committed to the Commonwealth Games. Our team on the ground will continue to monitor the situation however we will not compromise on areas of athlete health, safety and security, he added.

We need urgent action from the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Delhi Organising Committee to address these crucial issues.

On Tuesday an access bridge near the main Commonwealth Games Stadium collapsed, injuring 19 people, some seriously.

Several high-profile athletes, including England's Phillips Idowu, the reigning world, European and Commonwealth triple jump champions, have already withdrawn from the event, which is due to start on Oct 3.

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CWG bridge collapse: High Court asks Delhi Govt. to pay compensation to injured

Published>Wed, Sep 22 10 06:28 PM

New Delhi, Sep 22 (ANI): The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to pay Rs three lakh as compensation to those seriously injured and Rs one lakh to those who suffered fracture injuries in Tuesday's foot overbridge collapse outside the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, the main venue of the Commonwealth Games.

At least 27 labourers were injured on Tuesday, when the under- construction foot overbridge collapsed.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Manmohan came down heavily on the 'Labour Department of the Delhi Government' for failing to monitor as to whether the workmen were provided with adequate safety equipment at the site.

The court directed Crime Branch Deputy Commissioner of Police to investigate the matter.

"Actually your officers are not working. Keeping in view the gravity of the accident, the DCP (Crime Branch) is directed to investigate and proceed as per law," the court said.

The Justice Bench also directed the Deputy Labour Commissioner and Assistant Labour Commissioner of Delhi Government to visit all construction sites within a week and file an affidavit by the next date of hearing.

The court passed the directions while hearing a public interest litigation filed by NGO People's Union for Democratic Rights.

The NGO sought the court's direction to Delhi Government to pay basic wages to labourers working at various construction sites for the 2010 Games projects.

The 95-metre long foot overbridge was to connect the JLN stadium to a car parking lot. (ANI)

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Mary Kom eyes gold at 2012 London Olympics

Published>Wed, Sep 22 10 06:18 PM

New Delhi, September 22 (ANI): M C Mary Kom, who won the world championship title for the record fifth successive time said that her next objective, is to bag a gold medal in the 2012 Olympiad at London. She said this while addressing the media persons after a reception felicitating her achievement at New Delhi on Tuesday. 48 kg Mary Kom, clinched a historic fifth World Championship title at Barbados. Originally, she had competed in the 46 kg category.

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CRPF to aid Delhi Police in security of CWG

Published>Wed, Sep 22 10 06:12 PM

New Delhi, September 22 (ANI): CRPF's Director General Vikram Srivastava on Tuesday disclosed that the Central Reserve Police Force would help the Delhi Police in maintaining security during the Commonwealth Games. He said this after inspecting the specially trained personnel assigned for the task. Apart from about 10,000 athletes from 71 teams representing 54 Commonwealth member states, India is expecting about two million tourists in New Delhi for the Commonwealth Games being staged between October 3 and 14.

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Mary Kom eyes gold at 2012 London Olympics

Published>Wed, Sep 22 10 06:08 PM

New Delhi, September 22 (ANI): M C Mary Kom, who won the world championship title for the record fifth successive time said that her next objective, is to bag a gold medal in the 2012 Olympiad at London. She said this while addressing the media persons after a reception felicitating her achievement at New Delhi on Tuesday. 48 kg Mary Kom, clinched a historic fifth World Championship title at Barbados. Originally, she had competed in the 46 kg category.

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Now, Pakistan sending inspection team to Delhi over CWG security fears

Published>Wed, Sep 22 10 05:39 PM

Islamabad, Sep 22 (ANI): In the wake of security concerns over the Commonwealth Games being organised in New Delhi, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) President Arif Hasan has announced that a senior police official would go to the Indian capital on September 26 for an inspection visit.

"Although we have been assured by the CWG organising committee that our athletes would be provided top level security and of good arrangements at the athletics village, but we have our areas of concern," the Daily Times quoted Hasan, as saying.

He noted that the media reports about the security issues and lack of facilities at the Games village in New Delhi had bothered the POA, and Ahmed Mukarram, a senior police official, would visit the village for an inspection.Our contingent is due to leave on Sept. 29 but before that we want to get a briefing from the security officer as well," he added.

Recently, a security risk assessment report prepared by private counter-terrorism and security consultants Homeland Security Asia-Pacific, indicated that there was an eighty per cent chance that the Delhi Commonwealth Games (CWG), beginning on October 3, would come under some form of terror attack, putting athletes and officials in the firing line.ne of the report authors, counter-terrorism expert and security consultant- Roger Henning- said the biggest threat to athletes would be while travelling by road "from the airport to the village and from the village to the venues". (ANI)

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Singapore sanctions 16 players for mass brawl

Wed, Sep 22 10 05:27 PM

Singapore's Football Association (FAS) has sanctioned 16 players for their part in an ugly on-pitch brawl which forced the S.League match between Young Lions and Beijing Guoan to be abandoned earlier this month.

The FAS had charged six players from Young Lions and 10 from Guoan with "gross misconduct" and bringing the game into disrepute.

Four Young Lions players were suspended for between four to eight months, while two Guoan players were suspended for eight months and a third for a year. All were fined.

"The Disciplinary Committee extensively reviewed five video footages of the match, which provided us with a clear view of the incidents for each and every player," a league spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The players have been very remorseful in their mitigation and have admitted to the charges laid on them."

The FAS launched a probe into the match at the Jalan Besar stadium after it was called off 10 minutes from the end with the scores locked at 1-1.

Two Young Lions players were taken to hospital for checks after the fracas.

Young Lions are seventh in the standings of the 12-team league, one place ahead of Guoan.

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