Better than beating the chest, why not laugh your heart out? That’s what disappointed, dejected and despairing Delhiites are doing as the Commonwealth Games stumble from one embarrassment to another.
In the last two days, jokes about the CWG are coming up on people’s Gmail statuses, on
Facebook accounts, as tweets and also on cell phone inboxes. Get a sample:
BREAKING NEWS Kalmadi tries to commit suicide but survives as the stadium ceiling collapses!
The CWG organising committee has taken the word ‘village’ a little too seriously.
To the Common-wealth Games’ committee: Dilli badnaam hui, darling tere liye!
Will there ever be any light at the end of the tunnel for the CWG, or has the tunnel collapsed as well?
CWG: yahan khuda hai, wahan khuda hai... idhar khuda hai , udhar khuda hai... jahan nahin khuda hain, wahan kal khudega...
Kalmadi’s favourite song: CWG ki naiya hai Ram ke bharose, apni bhi naiya ko paar tu lagayi de.
Issued in public interest: When walking near CWG venues or while watching the Games IN the stadium, kindly wear a helmet all the time.
Asuvidha ke liye khel hai.
Rain, rain, go away, Suresh Calamity wants to play.
Indian bridge is falling down, falling down...
CWG: “Clogged Water Games”.
This is not rain but tears of Shera, our friendly neighbourhood CWG mascot!
Breaking News: Shera spotted at Delhi Airport trying to flee the country.
AP Photo/Gurinder Osan
This image of July 15, 2010 shows BJP leader Vijay Jolly, pointing towards a damaged false ceiling at the Yamuna Sports complex, scheduled to host the table tennis and archery events of the upcoming Commonwealth Games, in New Delhi.
Ceiling Parts Fall at Main CWG Venue, Govt Unfazed
New Delhi | Sep 22, 2010
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In further embarrassment, parts of a ceiling at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main Commonwealth Games venue, fell today but the Centre and Delhi government remained unfazed by the all-round attack over such incidents and instead targeted the media for highlighting "minor glitches".
Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit made light of the criticism over the preparations and counselled the media to "see the positive aspects" of the mega sporting event rather than portraying a "negative image".
Talking in unison, they insisted that the Games were "not collapsing" and all problems were being addressed.
"I would like you tell very categorically that these minor glitches and hitches do come around...But to make out that the whole thing is collapsing - I am sorry, we do not agree with that," Dikshit told reporters.
There may be minor glitches. We should try to remove the shortcomings...There may be water dripping somewhere. A wall may collapse due to rain. That does not mean the whole Games is bad," she said.
This assertion came on a day when three tiles of the false ceiling fell in the Ambedkar Weightlifting Auditorium in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Nobody was, however, injured in the incident which occurred a day after a 95-m hanging bridge, being constructed for the Games, collapsed outside the Nehru Stadium, injuring 27 people.
Reddy said personnel from Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) were working on the false ceiling to lay cables when some part of it fell.
"All these (incidents) are not obstacles. These are hiccups," Reddy said, seeking to downplay the incidents.
"There will be some problems. There are some problems. But they are not insurmountable. If there is any concern or there is any problem, they will be addressed to," said an unfazed Dikshit who is under increased attack after yesterday's bridge collapse.
Reddy, who yesterday described the bridge collapse as "not a major" issue, today said the media was overplaying such incidents including the falling off of ceiling tiles.
"I do not think we should overestimate the importance of such incidents," said Reddy, who is also head of the Group of Ministers looking after all aspects of the CWG preparations.
He accused the media of being "very negative" about coverage of the preparations.
"I do not think we should continue to be very negative in our coverage of news. My appeal to all media friends is to present the positive aspects," he said.
Dikshit was, however, critical of the media and even said prestige of the country should be kept in mind while highlighting the "minor glitches" related to the preparations.
"We have done everything possible...We have constructed beautiful stadiums, we have created so much beautiful infrastructure, there is greenery everywhere. Why cannot you see all these? I have not seen any country where people (criticize) their own country...Please become positive. This is your country," she counselled the media.
She said the "unprecedented rains" have affected the preparations. "I think the rain we have this year is the highest in last 50-60 years," he said.
Reddy said all the venues are in "perfect shape" and that all of them have been handed over to police for security and sensitization.
CWG faces the heat from all corners. India embarrased ?
Just 12 days to go. 8000 crores spent already. Bridge collapse, leakages, Unlivable Village. And now comes the biggest fear.
Bridge disaster ends a horrendous day
New Delhi: With just 12 days to go for the Commonwealth Games, host India faced the prospect of major international embarrassment Tuesday with both its showpiece structures, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the Games Village, coming under harsh scrutiny, forcing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene once again.
An under-construction foot overbridge near the main venue of the CWG collapsed, injuring 23 labourers, five of them seriously, just as Games officials and several foreign contingents complained that the village was still not fit for accommodation.
In a major blow to the preparations for the mega sporting event, expected to be attended by about 7,000 participants and officials from 71 countries and territories, the foot overbridge linking the Nehru Stadium to the parking lot, collapsed leaving red-faced officials scrambling for an explanation.
Let the Prime Minister HANG his HEAD IN SHAME for making India the LAUGHING STOCK of the WORLD....and RESIGN along with the KANGRESS from the UPA Govt.
They are fully accountable and money lost by GOI SHOULD BE RECOVERED FROM THE KANGRESS PARTY FUNDS....all the 50,000 CRORES spent without let or hindrance.
SHEILA DIXIT should RESIGN dipping her HEAD in the YAMUNA RIVER which is ready to devour the CM's head.
The Indians can NEVER build a regular BUILDING or TOWN in a proper planned manner taking into account all the amenities and conveniences required for an Ordinary citizen. These INDIAN BUILDERS and CONTRACTORS are NEVER USED to EXCELLENCE in what they do as QUICK MONEY is the only motive in all their constructions,and the goddam POLITICIANS and CORPORATORS in power are there for just such an attitude greasing their palms. So where is the question of any good constructions from the Indian Contractors or their Labourers?? They haven't any feeling that their SKILLS are on display in the various CWG Constructions that are attributed to them to their country and reflects their capabilities.
The PAAN SPITTING and PHLEGM shooting North Indian Labourers are also responsible for the FILTHY CWG. Why should the ATITHI suffer the sanitation and safety lacunas in India?? Just imagine a Weightlifter just when he is doing a PRESS suddenly finds the floor beneath him collapsing. Or spectators sitting in the Stands suddenly finds that the entire STADIUM is collapsing and so on....
