CWG in trouble; England, Wales set deadline

Commonwealth Games (CWG) plunged into deep trouble today after England admitted their participation is "on a knife-edge" while Scotland athletes delayed their departure to Delhi and Wales set a deadline of Wednesday evening for the organisers to certify all venues and Games Village are safe.

A footbridge collapsed near the main venue of the Games yesterday, which injured more than a dozen people, and the desperate state of the Athletes' Village -- described bu Commonwealth officials of some countries as "unfit for human habitation" -- has cast major doubts over foreign athletes turning up in India.

And now the collapse of a small portion of a false ceiling at the weightlifting arena added to the gloom surrounding the event.

CWG England Chairman Sir Andrew Foster admitted that they will have to make a quick decision -- within 24 to 48 hours -- on whether to take part in the Games.

"I think the next 24 to 48 hours is the critical time which will tell us whether the Village -- which is where the main problem is now -- has got enough accommodation for everybody to come into it. I think we're at an absolutely vital time (regarding) whether the major teams go," Foster told BBC Breakfast.

"Our staff have been round all 17 sports venues and they are in good order, so the key remaining feature which there's a problem with is the village. The other problems have been resolved. It's a situation that hangs on a knife-edge. It is not certain and we will not be sending our team unless we are confident," he said.

Foster, however, was still hopeful that the Indian government and the organising committee would be able to save the Games even though at this late hour.

"The village still has a lot of remedial work needing to be done. But it is the case in India, when building projects are coming to a conclusion, that that is a typical way that things happen and that is quite a big cultural difference.

'The safety of the athletes has to be our primary concern. But equally, we cannot just respond to that alone, we have to evaluate the whole thing together and that is what we are doing.'

CWG Scotland chairman Michael Cavanagh said that the first party of 41 athletes and staff in boxing, rugby sevens and wrestling will now not be travelling tomorrow as planned.