AOC: CWG delays may hamper India’s Olympic bid
Australia’s Olympic chief says any future games bid by India will be judged on the country’s ability to successfully host the Commonwealth Games in October.
Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said on Thursday that infrastructure problems and continuing security concerns over New Delhi’s Commonwealth Games from October 3-14 could damage India’s possible bid.
“In the Olympic world we would certainly prefer that venues are all finished one year before, that you’re able to have test events to test the venues, to test the organisation,” Coates said. “We did have some similar experiences with Athens (Olympics in 2004) and I’m sure the (Commonwealth) Games will happen, but certainly I wouldn't like to be involved in something with construction happening so close to the event.”
Indian organisers, who thought a successful Commonwealth Games could be a springboard for a future Olympic Games bid, are under pressure to complete the venues in time.
The local organising committee last week suspended high-ranking officials at the request of the Indian government following allegations of financial irregularities in the planning of an event to launch the Queen’s Baton Relay in London.
There’s also been wide reporting of corruption related to the building of infrastructure and venues. “In many ways you’re in the hands of organising committees,” Coates said. “You're in the hands of governments, you get to a stage where you have to trust them, you have to back them.”
Post new comment