Overall facilities in Delhi Games 'very good': Arbib
Appreciating Indian authorities over the Commonwealth Games preparations, Australian Sports Minister Mark Arbib today said there were some minor issues regarding the arrangements but overall the facilities were "very good".
Appreciating Indian authorities over the Commonwealth Games preparations, Australian Sports Minister Mark Arbib on Wednesday said there were some minor issues regarding the arrangements but overall the facilities were "very good".
"The preparations are very good and the Village is also quite good. In particular, the food is also good. There are some minor issues but overall the facilities are very good.
"In terms of competition, they are underway and our players are happy," Arbib told reporters.
Asked if Indian had good enough facilities to hold the Olympic Games, Arbib said the question should be asked to the International Olympics Committee (IOC).
"You see, India is working very hard and we are talking to the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Chief Minister here is doing a great deal... I have visited the facilities here and the boxing facility I had visited last night was one of the bests in the world," he said.
Asked whether the travel advisories issued before the Games by his country were exaggerated, the Australian Minister said, "We issue a number of advisories for various countries globally. They are done by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade."
He added that globally there were concerns over the Games but the Indian authorities especially the Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and the police worked very hard over the past fortnight to fix them.
Arbib said negative comments from the media were not unusual before such a mega-event and Australia also faced similar situations before the Sydney Olympics but the Games in 2000 turned out to be successful.