Embattled Commonwealth Games officials conceded a "major communication blunder" was to blame for Thursday's athletics farce as they continue to grapple with snags at the halfway point of the Delhi event on Friday. After a tumultuous build-up, the spectacular October 3 opening ceremony provided some brief respite before organisational nightmares returned to haunt the multi-sport gathering.
Australian Sally Pearson had completed her 100 metres victory lap on Thursday and was set to collect her gold medal when she was told about her disqualification some three hours after crossing the line.
"It was a major communication blunder," a visibly annoyed Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President Michael Fennell told a news conference on Friday. Organisers are also scampering to get special permission that would allow helicopters to fly over some of the city's restricted areas to cover cycling road race and marathon events. A barrier malfunction that left three Ugandan officials injured has further increased the organisers' embarrassment. Games Secretary General Lalit Bhanot said that Suresh Kalmadi, organising committee chairman, has written a letter to Uganda's high commissioner and the chef de mission apologising for the incident.
The prevailing chaos is in tune with the poor build-up of India's $6 billion exercise that was intended to rival China's near-flawless staging of the 2008 Olympic Games and underline the country's growing financial might. Corruption, shoddy construction of venues, hygiene and security issues, pullouts by a host of top athletes and overall mismanagement blighted the event and it required an embarrassed Indian government's last minute scramble to salvage the Games.