Games umpire is ready for Delhi

CONCERNS over the condition of facilities at the Commonwealth Games have been cooled by a bowler who will be centre stage in Delhi.

Jim Irwin MBE is heading out to the Indian capital to umpire the bowls competition, but despite all the reports of sub-standard living conditions in the athletes village, the Cardross man has no fears ahead of flying out on Thursday.

Only last week a part of a walkway from the athletes village to the main stadium collapsed and a section of the roof at one venue caved in.

And it was feared athletes from Scotland would be forced to delay their departure to the Games because the accommodation was deemed not fit to live in.

But Jim, 61, said: “[The umpires] have been well looked after.

“We are going to a nice hotel and we have no problems at all.

“We just need to do what we are supposed to do.

“I am not going for a holiday — we have been told it is going to be fifteen-hour shifts and I am going there to work.

“At the World Championships in Ayr we were the first there in the morning and last out at night and Delhi will be no different.

“I don’t think the Scotland team will have any problems and I don’t think the management would take them somewhere that is sub-standard.

“To be honest, we won’t know about anything until we get there but all the umpires are very happy and some have even went out early to see the Taj Mahal and see all the sights.”

Jim, who is a member of Dumbarton Bowling Club. will fly out early on Thursday and will spend two weeks in Delhi overseeing bowls events and he is excited about the opportunity.