SA delegation finds snake in CWG Village room

Just when things seemed to be getting on track, the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games  has plunged into a new crisis on Sunday. A snake was found in a room allotted to South African athletes, who are yet to check in, High Commissioner Harris Mbulelo Mejeke told reporters.
On a day when contingents from Malaysia and Botswana also complained about their allotments at the much-maligned Games Village, former athletics great Milkha Singh said they were fussing excessively as Indian athletes get by with sub-standard arrangements abroad.

"I think we are getting dominated by our guests. I have also been to number of countries and there have been times when the arrangements were not very good but we never made such a fuss out of it," Milkha told PTI.

'Threat to lives of players'

"We can't go and stay till things are fixed up. We have very grave concerns. If snakes are found we can't ask our teams to stay there. Yesterday we found a snake but I don't know whether it was an Indian snake. But it was there in one of our rooms," Mejeke said before entering the Village.

"That was a threat to the lives of our athletes. Very disappointing. Basically, the basement was full of water and the staircase was also damp," he said.

On being asked if he brought the matter to the notice of the organisers, he said, "We had someone with us. They have promised us, everything will be all right. I will go and check whether the promise has been kept," he said.

However, the South African envoy said there team will not withdraw from the controversy-marred event.

Malaysia, Botswana complain about Games Village

Although there was no serious threat of any contingent pulling out, the Games Village, where clean-up operations have been going virtually round the clock, came in for fresh criticism with Malaysia and Botswana complaining about the poor state of the residential blocks.

To compound the misery for the organisers, female Scottish tennis star Elena Baltacha, ranked 50th in the world, pulled out along with Australian cyclist Travis Meyer, table tennis player Stephanie Sang and Malaysian sprinter Siti Zubaidah Adabi citing health and security concerns.

They are making a fuss: Milkha

Legendary former athlete Milkha Singh today lashed out at the foreign athletes for fussing about the Commonwealth Games Village, saying that they can stay at hotels if they don't like the accommodation.

"I think India is giving in to the demands of our guests a little too much. The guests cannot dictate us. If they (foreign athletes) don't like the arrangements they should go and stay in the hotels," said the 81-year-old.

Milkha, the only Indian who has won a gold in Commonwealth Games track and field event, however, said the controversy surrounding the Commonwealth Games have tarnished the image of India.

"What should have been ready three years ago is still not complete. We waited till the last moment to finish everything, hence bringing disrepute to the nation," fumed the 'Flying Sikh', a name given to him by Pakistan General Ayub Khan in 1962.

"Wherever I go with my son (ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh), people speak so highly about India and talk about the progress the country has made over the past few years. But all this mess in the Commonwealth Games has dragged the country back. The nation has lost its respect," the gold medallist in the then 440 yard race in the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

England, Scotland check in

There was some good news as well with England's delegation checking in at the Village to do the groundwork for their athletes' arrival tomorrow. The first batch of athletes and officials from Scotland, around 80 in number, also arrived here.

A group of around 20 support staff were the first occupants of the accommodation to ensure that conditions continue to be on track for 48 athletes from the sports of hockey (32), lawn bowls (12) and shooting (4) to move in on Monday.

England Chef de Mission Craig Hunter said, "It's exciting but also a relief to be able to occupy our accommodation. 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 (more than 500) on October 5.