(ATR) Canada is the latest country to question its participation in next month’s Commonwealth Games after a bridge collapse adds fuel to a firestorm of doubt surrounding Delhi’s preparedness to host the games that open next week.
Athletes will trickle into the Indian capital beginning Friday, and Canada is among the participants to send ahead representatives to inspect Games venues, housing and security protocol before athletes arrive.
Commonwealth Games Canada officials didn’t like what they saw, and Team Canada may not participate as a result.
"We are deeply concerned that the condition of the residence facilities is not at all what we expected, nor anything like what was promised," director of sport Scott Stevenson said in a statement Tuesday morning.
"Beyond the major cleanup required, there are other issues with plumbing, wiring, furnishings, Internet access, and mobile telephone coverage."
Competition is slated to begin Oct. 4, and monsoon rains have put construction of the Athletes Village far behind schedule.
"The condition of the residential zone has shocked the majority," CWG Federation president Michael Fennelsaid Tuesday in a statement, and chief executive Mike Hooper later told Indian media the apartment towers are "uninhabitable".
These statements and more came hours before a footbridge outside the main Games venue collapsed into three pieces, injuring 27.
A shooting Saturday and previous reports of shoddy construction, poor traffic planning, graft and a dengue fever epidemic already had a number of nations leaning toward withdrawal.
Canadian officials have yet to make that decision but acknowledged in Tuesday’s statement the possibility is there.
"We're addressing an extremely challenging situation and monitoring developments very closely," said CGC president Andrew Pipe.
"The well-being and safety of our team members is a fundamental priority. We're very fortunate to have such capable staff in Delhi who are working very hard to ensure that we resolve these issues as quickly as possible."
New Zealand and England have also expressed doubts this week about their participation in the games, being held for the first time in India.
Many had viewed the competition as a stepping stone to thesubcontinent’s first Olympic Games.
Written by Matthew Grayson.
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