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Condom-plugged toilets, empty seats at Commonwealth
Last Updated: October 7, 2010 4:24am
NEW DELHI - Several swimmers from Australia and England have come
down with illnesses that may be related to the quality of water in the
Commonwealth Games' warmup pool.
"We must find out this immediately," said Commonwealth Games
Federation president Michael Fennell during a Thursday news conference.
"If there is something unsafe, you can't swim in that water."
Swimming Canada spokesman Martin Richard reported no major
illnesses. Mission, B.C.'s Brent Hayden joked after Wednesday's 4 x 200
metre relay that some members have experienced "Delhi belly." Hayden is
hoping to win a medal in Thursday night's 100 m freestyle.
Meanwhile, three members of the Ugandan delegation returning to
the athletes' village were rushed to hospital late Tuesday when a spike
belt embedded in the ground suddenly rose and struck their vehicle.
Authorities are claiming it was an accident. The trio included chef de
mission William Tumwine.
Fennell repeatedly told the news conference that the victims were
Pakistani, until he was politely corrected by a member of the Delhi
2010 organizing committee.
Delhi 2010 chairman Suresh Kahmadi said 125,000 tickets were sold
Wednesday, driven by the host nation's 11 gold medals. He was unable to
explain, however, the thousands of empty seats at venues.
Australian wrestler Hassene Fkiri's Tuesday-won silver medal was
revoked as punishment for showing his middle-finger to winner Anil Kumar
of India. New Zealand TV host Paul Henry was suspended by TVNZ for
turning Delhi chief minister Shiela Dikshit's surname into a slur.
More problems at the athletes' village, where construction and
sanitation threatened to derail the Games. This time it's condom-plugged
toilets. The Mail Today tabloid's Thursday front page headline screamed
"It's a rubbery problem at the CWG village."
"I hope they clean the toilets," Fennell said. "If that is
happening, it shows there is use of condoms and that is a very positive
story."