Hoping our athletes can ride on the Delhi situation!

It is refreshing for the Commonwealth League that all 71 member nations will compete in the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, given that just days ago, several bigwigs had decided to hold back their arrivals (in New Delhi) due to concerns about the athletes’ village and safety. With just over a week to go before the Delhi Games begin, on October 3 to be precise, frantic last-minute preparations are in full speed amidst chaos and international focus, international sports officials are furious and the games have become an international embarrassment not only to India but the Commonwealth League. Several developed nations like Scotland and Canada early this week said they would delay their departures to New Delhi because of the “unfinished athletes’ village”, and New Zealand followed their lead Thursday. The Australian government Thursday sent experts to assess the hygiene conditions in the village. It’s a shame that India, whether through complacency or corruption or both, opted to buy its time as far as preparing of these games is concerned, which is a big problem no matter what, and now look, it is backfiring right in their face. After what China did with the 2008 Beijing Olympics, this is not what India hoped for. You pity them, wouldn’t you?From every angle you look at it, this was India’s ‘golden’ opportunity to show the world what the Asian Sub-continent is about, but instead of showing the world that it is a modern, global power, India is being castigated from left, right and centre for its lack of preparation. Games organizers have faced a swing of troubles in the build-up to these games, including heavy rains, a citywide outbreak of dengue fever, fears over security after the shooting of two tourists last weekend, and the collapse of a pedestrian bridge at the main stadium, which injured several construction workers. The athletes’ village, a symbolic heart of the games, just like any other major sports event, is still unfinished, just days before the opening ceremony. The Western media, in the last couple of days, have had a field day; some described the home for more than 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories as “unfit for human habitation.” Africa’s powerhouses, South Africa and Kenya have also expressed their concerns but none threatened to pull out or delay their arrivals. Debutants Rwanda have not had a problem with the situation, only concerns about their safety, which both the organizers and the Rwandan embassy in India assured. The first batch of Team Rwanda left for New Delhi on Saturday on an historic mission, especially being the first generation to represent Rwanda at the Commonwealth Games following the country‘s admission into the League of nations and territories that were under the British colony. Rwanda was admitted in the Commonwealth as the 54th member in November, 2009. A former colony of Germany and Belgium, Rwanda is the second country to be admitted without a British colonial past or constitutional link to Britain. Mozambique is the only other Commonwealth member without historic UK ties. So, this is not just another trip for our team (officials inclusive), but especially the athletes. It’s history being made by this country, which is why those flying the Rwandan flag ought to do it well aware of the significance of this mission. It mustn’t be business as usual. Besides, this is not the Olympics where the Moto ‘is participation is more important that winning’, the Commonwealth games are for member nations to show off their talent in track and field, it’s about dominating and that translates to mean winning. A couple of contenders, mostly from developed nations and Kenya, have pulled out of the Games due to safety reasons. So, what does the withdrawal of some of the top athletes and the whole state of affairs mean for Rwandan athletes and their chances of winning any medal on their historic debut? If you asked me if our athletes stand any chance of winning any medal, and who one in particular, my answer would be no, but if Rwanda wins her first major championship medal, then I would place my bet on the cycling team. Nonetheless, I’d advise our athletes to take advantage of the negative remarks being thrown around about the organisation of the games, which is quite likely to obstruct athletes from developed nations, and if that’s going to be the case, then why? I would settle for that if it’s going to win us a medal. What do you think? nku78@yahoo.com