India’s failure to prove all Commonwealth Games venues and the athletes village are structurally sound and safe to use could jeopardise the event.
Just 14 days remain before athletes arrive in New Delhi but official reports of dodgy building practices and bogus building approvals still plague all 17 venues and other structures built for the Games.
Thousands of athletes from 71 commonwealth nations start to arrive from September 16 to take up residence in the village.
They will compete in New Delhi from October 3-14 but the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has yet to receive confirmation the village or any of the venues are safe.
“We are 14 days away from people arriving,” CGF chief executive Mike Hooper told AAP from Delhi.
“Without a building completion certificate, you can’t use the buildings. It’s pretty simple – you can’t use the venues.”
In late July, India’s anti-corruption watchdog dropped a bombshell by citing suspected dodgy building practices at a number of Games’ venues and accusations that construction firms have inflated their costs.
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) inspected 15 roadway and sporting venues and found substandard concrete and steel works, and evidence that regulatory approvals had been forged.
“Clearly, we could see the alarm bells and question marks and that’s why we’ve been pursuing this,” Mr Hooper said.
The CGF responded, requiring the Indian government to provide building certificates by Aug 18 that confirm all of the venues are safe to operate.
India missed that deadline, promising it would provide all of the required documentation by Tuesday, August 31, but failed to do so.
Mr Hooper said he met with Organising Committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi on Wednesday and reiterated the importance of the CGF’s request.
“After writing four or five times (to the OC), we’re disappointed that we didn’t receive it because that’s what the government agencies gave a commitment to do,” he said.
Mr Hooper said without the building certificates he is unable to allay any fears from countries participating in the Games.
“I think our members quite clearly want a reassurance that everything has met the proper building codes,” he said.
“Can we show them that today? No.”
Without the building certificates, the Games are in danger of not proceeding.
“Obviously, we can’t have people using venues without appropriate clearances – fire, health, safety, etc,” he said.
Perry Crosswhite, Australian Commonwealth Games Association (AGFA) chief executive, was awaiting word from Mr Hooper about building safety issue.
“That’s an ongoing issue we’ve got,” Mr Crosswhite told AAP.
“Knowing the Indians, they’ve probably got `em but they can’t find them. Things always tend to be a little bit confused.”
Mr Hooper said the Indian government expects to provide the requested documentation in several days.
