Delhi's games preparations still face problems

With just 30 days to go before the official opening of the New Delhi Commonwealth Games, organizers continue to struggle with basic preparations like safety certificates for structures and the wherewithal to fight a potential epidemic.

A fourth missed deadline for construction work and a spurt in cases of dengue fever _ a mosquito-borne virus _ are the latest setbacks to the threaten an event already plagued by allegations official of poor building practices and bogus building approvals .

The venues, which were scheduled to be ready by August 31, are now unlikely to completed until September 15, just a day before athletes and officials start arriving for the games Oct. 3-14 games.

Despite the setbacks, chief organizer Suresh Kalmadi is confident the infrastructure will be ready for the games.

"We are getting all the required certificates pertaining to completion, safety and fire and sending them to the Commonwealth Games Federation," Kalmadi said at a media conference Thursday.

But Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has expressed less confidence of late.

"The rains have spoilt our plans. Let us hope we do not get more showers, or else we will be in big trouble," she said this week.

The prolonged monsoon has not just delayed the completion of venues, but has also brought the threat of dengue as mosquitoes have been spotted at water logged areas near venues and the games village.

There have been over a thousand reported cases of dengue at government hospitals in New Delhi and many more in private medical centers.

Health secretary Sujata Rao fears the virus has the potential to become an epidemic.

"This fever has a four-year cycle and unfortunately this is the year it is due to spread more," Rao said. "However, it has not been as life threatening as during previous years."

Some participating countries have issued health warnings for their athletes, while as many as 24 have written to the organizing committee enquiring about its status.

"The central, state and municipality is fighting dengue on a war-footing," said Kalmadi. "There are over 1,800 doctors on the job and the government is trying to ensure the threat comes down by mid-September."

Concerns over the potential success of the games are not limited to the organizational front.

Top sprinters Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell of Jamaica, Olympic swimming champion Stephanie Rice and cyclist Chris Hoy are among the top names to have withdrawn from the games.

But Kalmadi, whose organizing team has been mired in graft allegations, said: "There will be enough stars to make this an attractive event."

As for Indian athletes, there has been no home advantage as they have not been close to the venues except for some farcical test events that were devoid of good competition.

Kalmadi was confident Indians would do well as "the camps were going on well, even though at distant cities."

Commonwealth Games chief Mike Fennell said on a recent visit to New Delhi that he was satisfied with security assurances, but traffic snarls posed a threat.

"I hope something is done about the traffic. It needs to be systematized so that things run smoothly during the games," he said.

Among other challenges are the sale of tickets and merchandise, the launch of which also missed deadlines.

"The ticket sales will pick up in the coming days. As for the merchandise, we have just launched it on Thursday after a delay," Kalmadi said.