With the Commonwealth games in New Delhi set to kick-off on October 3, a lot of debate questioning whether India is ready to host the games is surfacing in the media. Images showing the conditions of accommodation in the Athletes village, have been posted on various websites, further fueling the debate.

While some athletes have pulled out of the competitions claiming that the accommodation does not meet their standards, a number of countries have already sent out their teams. The first wave of Rwandan athletes is jetting out today.

The secretary general of the Delhi organizing committee has come out to say that he is confident the accommodation issue will be sorted before the games begin and would meet the required standards.

Instead of continuously criticizing India or the organizing committee, the various commonwealth countries should support India and help make the games a success. When Africa was hosting the World Cup for the first time, there was a lot of doubt, with some critics calling for the tournament to be taken to another country. However, the 2010 World Cup turned out to be one of the best tournaments, making Africa proud.

India too, should be given the benefit of the doubt. The organizers are working very hard to remedy any difficulties that might emerge. We must also acknowledge that no major event enjoys a smooth build-up, the commonwealth games are one such major event.

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