Gulf Times Editorial

The Commonwealth Games have ended – they weren’t
even supposed to start. The athletes have gone back well
fed and healthy – surprise, surprise. They were, after all,
destined to drop dead with dengue, malaria, typhoid or
cholera. And if by chance they had narrowly survived these
dreaded tropical scourges, surely the deadly cobras taking up
residence at the Athletes Village would have got them!
Oh, we almost forgot the terrorists who were supposed to
attack the Games. And the monkeys. And the rabid dogs. And
the pigeon droppings in the swimming pool. And the Delhi
Belly. And the bugs falling into journalists’ coff ee mugs. Humbug.
A couple of weeks ago we had hoped through this very
space that the Commonwealth Games could well turn out like a lavish Indian wedding where the build-up is chaotic only for things to fall into place perfectly at the last moment. We were right in our prediction as New Delhi basked in praise yesterday after the Games concluded like it had begun – in a blaze of colour and glory.
Sceptics who travelled to India with preconceived
notions went back with happy memories. Indeed many
were surprised to see how green Lutyens’ Delhi was. They
marvelled at its wide avenues and were left awestruck upon seeing its historical monuments.
Praise came from the Australians yesterday, who were
most worried about New Delhi hosting the event. Australia’s official travel advice warned of a “high risk of terrorism” during the Games, while three of their athletes pulled out over health and safety concerns. Australian Olympic chief John Coates even said Delhi should never have been awarded the Games in the fi rst place.
Swimming and athletics squads from England and Scotland
camped in Doha,waiting for last minute orders to proceed to the Indian capital or not. There were even rumours of a hurriedly arranged swimming tournament somewhere else if the Games didn’t take off . Pakistan sent its own security team to assess the situation in the Indian capital, worried its athletes would be targeted.
Actually, they got the loudest cheers at the opening ceremony. Yesterday, both Australia and Pakistan were lavish in their praise for the Games. Australian Sports Minister Mark Arbib said: “Overall as our athletes are saying and as the Commonwealth Games Federation said, they were an exceptional Games.”
Australian and New Zealand media also congratulated Delhi
on the event in an upbeat assessment.
“Bravo India” declared an editorial in Sydney’s Daily
Telegraph which described the New Delhi Games as a
“glorious competition”.
Indeed there were problems in the beginning, chiefl y a
result of the fatalism that rules the Indian psyche which
deems “everything will be done when the time comes”. But
it’s high time that this aspect is kicked out for good. Lastminute jitters need to be avoided, and people should be held accountable for their actions. Politicians and bureaucrats should learn their lessons and the corrupt should end up in jail.
Some sections of the western media were almost racist in
their approach. There are parallels in the way they cover the Arab world and the subcontinent, taking a lofty position on issues they barely understand.
During the Asian Games in Doha in 2006, a report on a
women’s football match by a leading international news
agency went like this: “There were more goals than spectators at the stadium...” To expect thousands of people in the stadium to watch a women’s football match involving teams such as North Korea and Turkmenistan in Doha is extremely foolish. It’s as simple as that. There were similar reports from New Delhi about the lack of spectators at sports such lawn bowls and netball!
Doha’s Asian Games were widely acknowledged as the best
in history, despite the efforts of some media to tarnish them. With 75 records set in New Delhi, and the hosts finishing second behind Australia with more than 100 medals, India, too, can be truly proud of its efforts.