India's Olympics

The Olympic village is just like many villages in India:  

"concerns over the athletes’ village — including excrement in rooms and problems with plumbing, wiring, and furnishings"

How is the band?  

"India scurrying to save showcase athletic event; Games plagued by fears, delays" by Ravi Nessman, Associated Press  |  September 24, 2010

NEW DELHI — Indian officials scrambled yesterday to salvage the rapidly approaching Commonwealth Games as a growing number of competitors delayed their arrival to allow organizers time to finish their frantic preparations....

The games were meant to showcase India’s emergence as a regional powerhouse. But long delays in getting facilities ready and a list of scandals have turned them into an embarrassment.

A poll in the Hindustan Times newspaper yesterday showed that 68 percent of surveyed New Delhi residents were ashamed of their country’s preparations for the games, which bring together athletes from the 71 countries and territories of the former British Empire and are held every four years.... 

Organizers have struggled with an outbreak of dengue fever, the collapse of a footbridge leading to the main stadium, and security fears after the shooting of two tourists Sunday outside one of the city’s top attractions. A Muslim militant group took responsibility for the shooting.

Oh, yeah? 

Did you know Muslims are responsible for every ill in the entire world?

Since concerns over the athletes’ village — including excrement in rooms and problems with plumbing, wiring, and furnishings — were raised this week, India has committed major resources to cleaning it up, with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit taking charge of the operation, said Mike Hooper, the games’ chief executive....   

Just the fact that it happened is enough to keep me away.

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Want to walk on over to the.... woah!

"Bridge collapse jeopardizes Games in India" by Associated Press  |  September 22, 2010

NEW DELHI — A footbridge being built near the main stadium for the Commonwealth Games collapsed yesterday, injuring 23 construction workers and putting the event in further jeopardy less than two weeks before the opening ceremony.

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The accident was the latest setback to New Delhi’s troubled preparations for the games, which bring together more than 7,000 athletes and officials from the 71 countries and territories in the commonwealth every four years....

Earlier in the day, Michael Fennell, Commonwealth Games Federation president, had contacted the Indian government and urged that work be completed on the athletes’ village, which many have called unlivable....   

Well, at least the corporate media cleaned up the s***.

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Also see: Globe's Fun and Games in India